Q&A with Andrea Merrington
Continuing the Q&A series with key figures from The Howard de Walden Estate
Following news of the recent changes in the Use Class Order, we caught up with Director of Planning Andrea Merrington to discuss its impact and the latest developments across the Estate including the partnership with Wild West End and new planning projects across the Harley Street Medical Area and Marylebone Village.
Andrea, you’ve been involved with Wild West End, can you tell us more about the latest greening and biodiversity developments across the Howard de Walden Estate?
As an Estate, we have worked hard to create as much green space as possible across our 92 acres of Marylebone. To date, we have added green roofs providing over 900 sqm of roof top cover and several green walls throughout Marylebone Village and The Harley Street Medical Area (HSMA). We are looking forward to expanding upon this with additional green roofs planned which will provide in excess of 1,000 sqm of extra green space to the Estate.
We’ve also been very successful in working with our retailers to green areas such as Marylebone Lane by installing planters for instance where we can. We are keen to engage further with our occupiers and customers to work together with them to continue to improve this overall. As Board Members of the Harley Street Medical Area Partnership, we are already working with public realm specialists and the Board to find further opportunities within the HSMA for greening, biodiversity and wellbeing.
Since we joined Wild West End, we have engaged with London Wildlife Trust and regularly complete a survey of our green spaces to further understand where the opportunities lie and what can be done in the future to encourage wildlife to Central London.
How will developments in the change of use class impact the HdWE planning process?
The recent changes in the Use Class Order (September 2020) has been part of an entire shake up of the planning system by Central Government and we see these changes as creating both potential positives and negatives to our development programme going forward, especially in light of the challenges faced with Covid-19.
The new Use Class “E” which involves all commercial, business and services will allow for greater flexibility within our retail businesses especially at ground floor level so these units can remain active and continue to be let over the long term.
On the other hand, the Estate is well known as a guardian and supporter of the Harley Street Medical Area (HSMA) which offers world class facilities for some of the best private healthcare providers in the world. This change in the use class order may impact the level of control the Estate may have over the protection of this use within the area, especially over the buildings it does not own.
That said, we will continue to work hard to protect the medical use of the buildings within this destination for the future and promote it on the international stage.
You led the planning process for the £10m refurbishment project of the Grade II listed properties at 141 and 143 Harley Street, which will house the Advanced Oncotherapy proton therapy system. What were the main challenges of this project for you?
From a planning perspective, this was a very complex and contentious scheme from the outset. We had two goals in mind; first and foremost to protect the historical nature both internally and externally of two Grade II listed buildings and secondly, to provide an outstanding specialist medical facility for this cutting-edge cancer treatment.
Within the planning process, this project involved a huge amount of neighbourhood engagement to explain the extensive build process but also the complex nature of the medical facility proposed. The Estate worked hard to listen to the comments and concerns of its community but also with its neighbours to achieve a facility that was right for the future of the Harley Street Medical Area.
Achieving planning and listed building consent for this facility in December 2016 has shown what can be achieved in the HSMA for medical developments of the future whilst maintaining and protecting our heritage assets for the long term.
What is the outlook for planning projects over the coming years? What do you look forward to most about your role?
I must say the future of the HSMA is looking very exciting! The Estate is continually seeking to identify further areas of medical specialisms to welcome into the area whilst seeking to attract the most forward-thinking operators in the industry.
This excites me as I relish the opportunities within Town Planning to balance the old with the new, protecting our heritage assets whilst seeking to find ways to push them to their limits to provide the very best we can for the Harley Street Medical Area.
Finally, what are your favourite spots in Marylebone Village?
My two favourite spots in Marylebone would be Daunt Books on Marylebone High Street, where you can easily lose yourself in the beautiful Edwardian architecture while finding the most perfect book to enjoy. Also, 108 Brasserie. For me it is one of the best bars in London. It’s chic and sophisticated whilst being warm and welcoming- what more do you need!
