Nineteen London retail parks could accommodate around 11,200 new homes through mixed-use redevelopment, according to research by consultancy Lichfields.
The study examined 102 retail parks across 29 boroughs. After screening for accessibility, planning policy, flood risk and local services, it identified 19 sites in 13 boroughs with potential for further housing.
Redevelopment is already under way elsewhere. Some 29 of the 102 retail parks are undergoing residential-led schemes that could deliver up to 16,800 homes, while developments next to retail parks are providing a further 17,500.
James Singer, Associate Director at Lichfields and author of the research, said: ‘London needs more homes and some retail parks have clear potential to help provide them, particularly where large parts of a site are taken up by surface car parking or low-density development.
‘That doesn’t mean every retail park is suitable for housing. Many are trading well, and factors such as land value, existing tenants and lease structures can make redevelopment difficult.
‘In a lot of cases, the more realistic approach is to redevelop sites in stages, keeping successful retail and leisure uses while adding homes and improving the wider site. That can make better use of the land while retaining uses that continue to perform well.’
