Clarion signs £110m JV with developer to get scheme finished after ‘rising build costs’

London Square, which was acquired by Abu Dhabi-based Aldar Properties late last year, will jointly deliver the private homes on the site with Latimer.

The development, which will be known as Twickenham Square, is due to consist of 104 homes for private sale, 80 for shared ownership and 28 for London Affordable Rent. 

The scheme will include 182 flats, between one and three bedrooms, and 30 terraced houses. It is on the site of the former campus of Richmond upon Thames college. 

Clarion, which is the UK’s largest housing association with around 125,000 homes, will retain and manage the affordable homes as freeholder and landlord. 

The freehold for the private sale homes has been transferred to joint partnership. A “joint estate management strategy” will be operated for the entire site, the spokesperson for the landlord added. 

Latimer received planning permission for the site in summer 2022 after submitting a revised application increasing the affordable homes element from 19 per cent to 51 per cent of the overall total. The total number of homes was also raised from 180.

At the time Clarion announced the planning green light, it did not mention another developer would be involved beyond Latimer. 

Demolition of the college blocks is already under way, according to London Square, while the first homes are expected to be completed by 2026. 

It is the fourth scheme London Square has partnered with Latimer to deliver in the capital, according to the firm. The two entities are also working on schemes in Croydon, Neasden and Staines. 

London Square also owns for-profit registered provider Square Roots. Last December, the firm told Social Housing that Square Roots will continue to have an “independent board” after it was acquired by Aldar Properties.