Felnex Trading Estate Regeneration Scheme Aims To Turn The Area İnto The UK's First Sustainable Suburb

Felnex Trading Estate is a 7.7 hectare industrial estate located in the centre of Hackbridge. The transformation of the 1 million square foot Felnex Trading Estate in Hackbridge in Sutton, south London, is one of the largest redevelopment schemes in the country and will create more than 500 jobs.

The application is now to be referred to the Mayor of London before planning permission is formally granted. The council believes the development will be a magnet for families and couples wanting to relocate from inner city London to the leafy suburbs. Hackbridge railway station is just 25 minutes from London Victoria, while Sutton is one of London’s greenest boroughs with 1,500 acres of green spaces, including 89 parks.

The £150 million development, believed to be the biggest regeneration scheme to be approved this year in London, is a key part of Sutton Council’s ambitious Hackbridge Project, which aims to turn the area into the UK’s first sustainable suburb.

Schroder Property Investment Management, on behalf of Hackbridge Property Unit Trust, was granted outline planning permission for the “innovative and green neighbourhood” plan at a meeting of the council’s development control committee.

It aims to transform the 7.7 hectare site into a thriving town centre with 725 new homes, a community centre, doctor’s surgery, care home, supermarket, offices, shops and a bus interchange. They will be centred around a public square, designed to be the new heart of the community, where events such as farmers’ markets can be held and public art displayed. Also included are open spaces, pocket parks and ‘edible gardens’, where residents will be able to help themselves to produce from communal fruit trees.

Jayne McCoy, Sutton Council’s Executive Member for Planning, Economic Development and Housing, said: “This groundbreaking development is the biggest regeneration project to get the green light in London this year and is a landmark example of how Sutton continues to attract investment, new business and housebuyers to the borough. It will transform this area of the capital and help achieve our vision of making Hackbridge the UK’s most sustainable place to live, work and visit a reality.”

Cllr McCoy said: “Our plans for Hackbridge represent one of the most prestigious, place-changing and innovative projects in the UK. The development will give the area a focal point and deliver millions of pounds of improvements for the area. As part of the legal agreement with the developers, £2m will be spent towards providing extra school provision, £700,000 towards sustainable transport and almost £200,000 on improving Beddington Park.”

The site was first developed for industrial purposes in 1917 but most of the buildings on the site are now vacant with the rest used for storage or distribution purposes.

The first phase of the new development is set to begin next year with the building of the new 4,000 square metre supermarket and a number of flats.

Neil Meredith, of Schroder Property Investment Management, said: “We are delighted that we have received the go-ahead for this exciting new project. Our vision is to create a sustainable, innovative development that will spearhead Hackbridge’s regeneration.

“We are proud to be developing the Felnex Trading Estate as an exemplar sustainable project, in response to the ambitious aims and aspirations to make Sutton the UK’s first sustainable suburb. This development will make Hackbridge a better place to live, work and play, and will remove an eyesore, bring new family homes, viable long term jobs and shopping opportunities back to the centre of Hackbridge.”