Plans to move residents from a council estate into new homes have been delayed due to issues with a heating system.

As part of the Brent Cross Cricklewood regeneration programme, residents from the neighbouring Whitefield Estate are set to be rehoused in new homes in stages over this year.

However, delays have plagued moving plans for the first set of residents, with 47 of the homes, all affordable housing, experiencing “technical issues” with their heating system. 

A short-term fix of a temporary gas boiler is set to be installed in May, enabling moving plans to continue.

Luke Ward, Barnet Council’s Brent Cross programme director, assured councillors at a cabinet meeting on April 16 that this wasn’t going to be the “long-term” solution.

“The buildings are complete, there are some technical issues in relation to the heating system,” he said.

“[Developer] L&Q, who are on the cusp of taking possession of those buildings, are currently putting in place a ‘provisional system’.

“We’re expecting a detailed update from L&Q in the next week or so and we expect it to include a move date for the residents. 

“It’s not news any of us wanted at this stage, however the buildings have been completed [and] we expect in the next six weeks residents will be able to move into their new homes.”

The second set of residents from Whitefield Estate will be occupying 120 homes in Brent Cross Town and these are on schedule to be completed later this year with residents moving in “soon after completion”. These are also affordable homes.

However, councillors generally spoke positively about the programme, which is due to be fully delivered in between 15 and 20 years.

Cllr Ross Houston, deputy leader and cabinet member for homes and regeneration, said it was “solid”.

“We are beginning to see a very interesting mix of place shaping and mix of tenure types,” said Cllr Houston.

“We’re going to see a lot of affordable housing coming forward, we’re going to see a ‘later living’ scheme, and student housing. 

“[It will be] a really diverse housing mix and it’s part of the vision of making sure Brent Cross Town isn’t a dormitory, it’s a new town, and I think this is very much on track for that.”