Situated in Northwest London, Cricklewood is a suburban neighbourhood next to Brent Cross. Located close to Dollis Hill and Willesden Green, the town is fast shaking off its industrial past, attracting new home buyers and young families who are unable to afford homes in pricier areas such as West Hampstead. Cricklewood was a former industrial area with factories producing a variety of goods from aircraft accessories, electric clocks, Smith’s Crisps and the Stylophone. These factories have now moved out of the area, making way for more shops and residences.
Cricklewood Broadway
Historically, the area mainly consists of terraced and detached houses but due to the shortage of homes, more apartments are being built in the area. First-time home buyers and young families looking to live in North London would consider Cricklewood for it schools, majority of which are rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, and existing transport links connecting the neighbourhood to Central London. According to Zoopla, the average price for an apartment in Cricklewood is approximately £494,000, which is markedly lower than the average of £764,429 in West Hampstead.
The Largest Regeneration Scheme in Greater London
In 2010, planning permission was granted for the largest regeneration scheme in Greater London to date. The £4.5bn regeneration scheme is set to revitalise Cricklewood and Brent Cross, providing some 7,500 new homes, a new town centre and 841,615 sq ft of retail space. Hammerson and Standard Life Investments will give the iconic Brent Cross Shopping Centre a facelift and double the size of the existing shopping centre. Simultaneously, Argent Related, in partnership with Barnet Council, has been mandated to carry out the regeneration south of the A406, which will see 6,700 new homes, a new high street, parks and community facilities. Argent is best known for the successful regeneration of King’s Cross.
A new “Living Bridge” connecting Brent Cross to Cricklewood over the North Circular road will also be built, providing greater connectivity between the areas.
New Developments
The improved infrastructure and amenities has sparked additional development activity in the area. According to Knight Frank, there were over eight developments under construction or with planning permission granted in 2017, translating to over 500 homes. This is in stark contrast to the 430 homes built within a 1-mile radius of Cricklewood Railway Station from 2012 to 2016.
One such new development is Fellows Square, a collection of 230 apartments by FABRICA. The development, which is located on the border of the regeneration, was launched last year and has since sold out. The Broadway by Fairview New Homes will consist of 122 apartments will be launched this May.
Connectivity
Integral to the regeneration scheme are transport enhancements such as a new bus station and the creation of Brent Cross West station, a Thameslink station. The new station, which will be operational in the next two to three years, will connect the area to King’s Cross St Pancras in under 15 minutes. Odyssey Partner’s newly acquired site is within walking distance of the new station.
While the new station will enhance connectivity, it is worth noting that Cricklewood is already well-served by public transport and major roads.
At present, Cricklewood Thameslink rail station offers direct services to Kings Cross St Pancras in less than 20 minutes. Brent Cross underground station is accessible by bus and connects commuters to Central London via the Northern Line. For residents with cars, the A5, which passes through Cricklewood as Edgware Road, connects Cricklewood directly to Marble Arch. Also easily accessible is the M1 motorway, which links London to surrounding areas such as Birmingham and Leeds.
Future Growth
With the flurry of regeneration and development activity, Cricklewood is expected to undergo a dramatic transformation in the coming years. This will result in an increase in demand for homes in the area and an uplift in property values.
