Rayners Lane regeneration picks up award (From Harrow Times)

Rayners Lane regeneration in Harrow picks up award

3:43pm Friday 28th September 2012 in News By David Hardiman, Reporter

A housing development set to provide nearly 800 homes has picked up a prize for its regeneration of a dilapidated estate.

The Spectrum, in Rayners Lane, which has transformed the estate on the road into new houses and a community centre, won best regeneration project at the Affordable Home Ownership Awards last night.

Homes in the block are eligible for a Government scheme called HomeBuy Direct, which offers a loan of 30 per cent of the total price to first-time buyers struggling to get the money together.

By 2014, Home Group will have built 450 properties for rent and more than 300 properties for sale and once complete it will also provide new shops and open spaces.

Chief executive of the firm, Mark Henderson, said: “Winning best regeneration project means a lot to us as contributing to the revitalisation of this area of London is exactly what The Spectrum is all about.

“We’re proud to have built high quality homes for residents but to have also increased their quality of life and we’re pleased the judges recognised that.”

The long-running regeneration, which had a £140million cash injection from the sale of houses and Government funding, initially faced opposition from locals when it was announced in 2005 but has won support since work began and picked up another award for its architecture last year.

The new homes, which replaced rundown 1960s housing blocks, have solar panels for hot water, wastewater recycling, and green roofs to help reduce water retention.