Come along to learn more about the proposals for Poets Corner, ask questions and discuss your ideas with the team. 

Have your say

The new plans for Poets Corner will feature an increase in the amount of open, communal green space areas.

Green spaces, play and parking

Generous areas of new green space will be created and the existing mature trees will be incorporated into the design as well as new trees and planted areas.&nbsp;New green spaces will provide new residents and local people with access to nature, promote biodiversity, and contribute to a sustainable and environmentally- friendly development. A generously-sized new park &ndash; Poets Garden &ndash;will be at the heart of the site offering a quiet, green area for the local neighbourhood.&nbsp;This new park area will be equivalent in size to Elephant Park, Lewis Cubitt Park in Kings Cross or Granary Square, also in Kings Cross, as shown in the images below.Green courtyards will be created between the buildings which will serve as shared garden spaces and play areas exclusively for the new residents, offering a peaceful and green retreat within the development.

Across the site there will be play areas for children and families created for both new residents and local families. It is important everyone feels safe and welcome in these spaces and we would like to hear your ideas to help shape the design.&nbsp;Please see below the mood boards showcasing play spaces and green spaces in Poets Corner.

Parking and transportCurrently, the site has a large area of parking linked to the former civic centre. Redeveloping the site means this will no longer be available. The site is served by five bus routes, Bakerloo Line and London Overground services every 15 mins from Harrow and Wealdstone and four fast trains an hour into central London. Harrow-on-the-Hill train station in the town centre is a short walk or bus ride from the site and offers Metropolitan line services into central London.&nbsp;As the site has such good public transport access, in accordance with London Plan policy, Poets Corner will be expected to be designed as a car-free development. 34 disabled car parking spaces will be provided as well as space for car club vehicles. Secure cycle parking will also be provided.New walking and cycling routes will be created to help local people to access the train station and get across the site with new pedestrian crossings for Station Road.

Tell us what you think

<h4>Please click &#39;Next&#39; to submit your response.</h4>

What do the stages of development for Poets Corner look like?

What happens next

Shape the proposals

The London Borough of Harrow in partnership with Wates will submit a planning application in late 2024.&nbsp;Right now, as the designs are being prepared, we want to hear the views of local people.&nbsp;Everyone is invited to share ideas on the latest designs and tell us more about what it is like to live, work and spend time in this part of the borough. These insights will help shape the proposals.&nbsp;The planning application will cover the entire site, which will be developed over 10 years in three phases &ndash; this part is known as a hybrid planning application and outlines the layout of buildings and indicative heights. Alongside this, more detailed proposals will be submitted for Phase One.

Timeline&nbsp;2016 &ndash; 2018<ul><li dir="ltr">Early proposals shared for public consultation (before appointment of Wates)</li></ul>Summer 2021<ul><li dir="ltr">Wates appointed by council as development partner</li></ul>Autumn 2021 &ndash; 2022<ul><li dir="ltr">Design proposals developed (now rejected)</li></ul>May 2022 &ndash;September 2024<ul><li dir="ltr">New design proposals developed</li></ul>October &ndash; mid November 2024<ul><li dir="ltr">Public engagement</li><li dir="ltr">New design proposals for Poets Corner shared with community</li></ul>Autumn 2024<ul><li dir="ltr">Final designs prepared</li></ul>End 2024<ul><li dir="ltr">Hybrid planning application submitted (including detailed proposals for Phase One)</li></ul>Early 2026<ul><li dir="ltr">Construction on Phase One</li></ul>2029<ul><li dir="ltr">Residents start to move in</li></ul>2034<ul><li dir="ltr">Ten-year development complete at Poets Corner</li></ul>

Around 1,100 new homes will be delivered with Poets Corner

New homes

New homesPoets Corner will be developed over 10 years with plans for around 1,100 homes to be built in three phases. The London Plan requires the council to deliver new homes. We would like to hear your views on proposals for Poets Corner. Share your views on the designs by answering the question at the bottom of this page.&nbsp;A detailed planning application for the first phase will be submitted in late 2024 for approximately half the homes with the remainder delivered through two subsequent phases. &nbsp;Phase One&nbsp;Phase one, which is highlighted in the image below, will likely start construction in 2026. Around 530 new build-to-rent homes will be delivered in this first phase alongside amenity space (around 1,100 sq m) for new residents and commercial space (around 330 sq m), potentially for a caf&eacute;, restaurant or a shop.&nbsp;Poets Garden, the generous, new green public space at the heart of the site will be delivered in Phase One. The new community square adjacent to Station Road will also be created in this first phase.&nbsp;Phases Two and ThreePhase Two will deliver roughly 300 new homes. Phase Three will deliver roughly 250 homes. Poets Corner should be complete by 2034.

Designing the buildingsThe buildings will differ in height partly in response to the varied levels of the site with taller buildings of up to a maximum of 15 storeys located closer to Station Road where the land slopes down to a lower level. Closer to Marlborough Hill and Milton Road, the buildings will step down to 6 or 7 storeys.&nbsp;

The new plans feature an increase in the amount of open communal areas with new green public space.

Public space and amenties

Public space and amenities

Improving the local areaThe proposals will be developed with existing communities in mind and with consideration to views shared during this, and previous consultations.&nbsp;Larger areas for public space as well as areas for community and commercial space in the new proposal brings opportunities for local people to help shape the design and share ideas for future uses.&nbsp;Tell us what you think would improve the local area so we can consider how Poets Corner could help meet the needs of local people. Answer the survey questions at the bottom of this page.&nbsp;Public space for everyoneLarge areas of the site will be public space, open to everyone with play areas for new residents and surrounding families. A new park, green spaces and a community square will offer a much-needed natural area for recreation and relaxation in an otherwise built up area within the London Plan Opportunity Area.

Community and commercial spaceThe paved area of the site next to Station Road will be landscaped to create a new community square potentially including a new cafe with the opportunity for community activities, events or a restful, green space to sit or meet with friends.&nbsp;This flexible public space could accommodate events, markets and other community activities and for comparison, it is likely to be similar in size to Acton Square, Navigator Square, Archway or Aldgate Square, as shown in the image below.

Commercial space will be provided to meet local needs and this could include new shops, a cafe or small restaurant, work space and every opportunity is being explored to secure a new health facility or nursery on the site as well. There is also the opportunity to encourage temporary pop-up creative uses within the buildings.

Thinking about the local area, to what extent do you agree with the following statements (1 being strongly disagree / 10 being strongly agree).

Poets Corner will deliver high-quality, new homes, generous public space as well as shops, cafes and workspace. 

Introduction

Poets Corner will bring new homes on council-owned land.&nbsp;Around 1,100 new homes will be built on the large site, which was previously home to the council&rsquo;s civic centre. The site is well located, just a few minutes&#39; walk from Harrow &amp; Wealdstone station and midway between the town centres of Wealdstone and Harrow.&nbsp;The vision is to create a new neighbourhood to deliver much-needed new homes for Harrow and create generous areas of new public space for local people.Improving previous proposalsProposals for Poets Corner and the decision for the council to move from the former civic centre was agreed before the May 2022 local elections. As shown with the image on the left displaying the aerial view of the now rejected design (from 2021/2022)The proposals included a scheme featuring a new primary school and new buildings up to height of 17 storeys as illustrated.&nbsp;

The image on the left is the aerial view of the now rejected design (from 2021/2022)The image on the right is of the layout plan of the new design proposals (2024)

What&rsquo;s changed?Poets Corner is a central, strategic site in the borough &ndash; identified as an Opportunity Area in the London Plan. As the council has now relocated, it is important to maximise the space for new homes to help meet Harrow&rsquo;s housing need.&nbsp;The new plans increase the amount of open, communal areas for residents to enjoy. These green spaces will contribute to the overall well being of the community and offer opportunities for recreation and relaxation.&nbsp;More homes are proposed and the spacing of buildings across the site has been carefully considered to reduce the height of the tallest building.&nbsp;A new school is no longer needed on this site. Demand for primary school places has fluctuated over recent years and the latest projections confirm there will be sufficient school places to meet future demand and additionally a new primary school is planned for the Harrow View area.

Find out moreLook at the proposals for <a href="https://poetscorner.commonplace.is/en-GB/proposals/poetscornercommonplaceishomes/step1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">new homes</a>, <a href="https://poetscorner.commonplace.is/en-GB/proposals/poetscornercommonplaceisneighbourhood/step1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">public space and community services</a>, <a href="https://poetscorner.commonplace.is/en-GB/proposals/poetscornercommonplaceisgreenspace/step1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">green space and play</a> and have your say at a <a href="https://poetscorner.commonplace.is/en-GB/proposals/poetscornercommonplaceisfeedback/step1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">public consultation</a> event or by answering our <a href="https://poetscorner.commonplace.is/en-GB/proposals/equality-monitoring-questions/step1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">survey questions</a>.

Click here for a digital copy of our Community Newsletter

Click here for a digital copy of our feedback form

Join a consultation event

Come along to learn more about the proposals for Poets Corner, ask questions and discuss your ideas with the team.&nbsp;Join a consultation event:Saturday 5th October, 11-2pm &ndash; Katie&#39;s Statue, 311B Station Road, HA1 1LF Thursday 17th October, 2-7pm &ndash; Harrow Leisure Centre, Christchurch Avenue, Harrow HA3 5BD Friday 18th October, 12-3pm&nbsp;&ndash; Poets Corner (former civic centre site), Station Road, HA1 2XH (opposite Harrow Central Mosque) Thursday 7th November, 2-7pm &ndash; Harrow Leisure Centre, Christchurch Avenue, Harrow HA3 5BD Tuesday 12th November, 6.30-7.30pm &ndash; virtual engagement event via ZoomRegister your interest by completing this form.&nbsp; <a href="https://forms.office.com/e/ctg871qXCj" id="isPasted">https://forms.office.com/e/ctg871qXCj</a>Share your ideasAnswer our survey questions to comment on the latest design proposals.&nbsp;