Deputy Mayor Tom Copley visits Whalebones Park to see progress on landmark Barnet development
Deputy Mayor of London for Housing and Residential Development, Tom Copley, recently visited the Whalebones Park development in Barnet, joining The Hill Group and SNG to see first-hand the progress being made on site and learn more about the vision for the new community taking shape.
Once complete, Whalebones Park will provide 115 high-quality new homes on land adjoining the Grade II listed Whalebones House in the London Borough of Barnet. The carefully designed neighbourhood will include a mix of spacious private family homes and 54 affordable (47%) homes managed by SNG, helping to create a balanced and inclusive new community.
The affordable homes include one, two and three-bedroom apartments, with 29 available for Affordable Rent to people on Barnet Council’s housing register, and a further 25 offered through Shared Ownership.
During the visit, Tom joined Greg Hill, Deputy CEO of The Hill Group and Joe Marshall, SNG’s Chief Investment and Development Officer and other senior representatives from the partners on a site tour to review progress on construction and discussed how the development is helping to address London’s housing need, while preserving and enhancing the character of this important heritage site.
Tom’s visit to Whalebones follows his April tour of Grand Union where SNG is delivering 269 social rent homes following a deal with developer’s Berkeley.
Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development, Tom Copley, said: “Whalebones Park is a fantastic example of how we can deliver the high-quality, genuinely affordable homes Londoners need while creating places where communities can thrive. It was great to visit the site and see the progress being made, as well as the commitment from Hill and SNG to preserving green space, enhancing biodiversity and respecting the heritage of this special location. Developments like this are vital to building a better, fairer London for everyone.”
Joe Marshall, SNG’s Chief Investment and Development Officer, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome the Deputy Mayor to Whalebones and showcase how this partnership with Hill is helping to deliver high-quality, affordable homes in Barnet. Our 54 homes here will give local people greater access to affordable rent and shared ownership in an area where demand remains high. Combined with the new green spaces, community facilities and long-term investment in the landscape, this development will make a lasting positive impact for both new and existing residents.”
Andy Hill OBE, Founder and Group Chief Executive of The Hill Group, said:
“We were delighted to welcome Deputy Mayor Tom Copley to Whalebones Park to show him the progress being made on site. This is a truly special development that balances the delivery of much-needed new homes with the protection of the site’s natural beauty and historic significance. Our plans respect the heritage of Whalebones House and the character of Barnet, while creating a sustainable new neighbourhood and, working closely with SNG, we’re ensuring it’s a place where everyone can live together well.”
Around half of the 12-acre site will be retained as publicly accessible open space, ensuring the natural beauty and heritage of Whalebones Park is protected for future generations. Residents and the wider community will benefit from attractive meadows, healing gardens, ponds, natural play areas, a woodland walk and accessible green routes designed to encourage wellbeing and biodiversity. The project will also include a smallholding for the site’s long-term agricultural tenant, a new and improved artists’ and beekeepers’ studio, and on-site parking, helping preserve the site’s historic community uses.
The development has been designed not only to deliver much-needed new homes, but also to provide significant ecological and environmental benefits. A biodiversity net gain of 10% will be achieved through the planting of 200 new trees and 750 metres of new hedgerow, alongside a long-term management plan to protect habitats and green infrastructure. Homes will feature air-source heat pumps, solar panels and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS), ensuring the neighbourhood is low carbon, energy-efficient and environmentally sensitive.
The first homes are expected to complete in Summer 2027.