John Lewis names sites for its ‘more than four walls’ newbuild flats
John Lewis has chosen Bromley, Ealing and Reading as the pilot locations for its venture into building branded homes for the rental market, as the staff-owned retailer tries to create new communities around its stores.
Unveiling its plans in detail for the first time, the company said its one-, two- and three-bedroom flats will be furnished with John Lewis products and come complete with communal areas such as roof gardens, gyms, flexible office space or meeting rooms where events will be hosted to bring people together. The spaces will be used to host community and social events, attracting renters with an offer that is about “more than just four walls”, the company said.
The group, which operates department stores and the Waitrose supermarket chain, is aiming to start work on the sites in 2024, subject to consultations with local residents which start later this year. Renters are expected to move in by 2027 as part of an effort to expand beyond retailing.
Homes will be built above two Waitrose stores, in Bromley, south London, and Ealing, west London, while a vacant John Lewis warehouse in Reading will also be transformed under the plan, which will see the John Lewis Partnership team up with as yet unnamed housing developers.
Energy efficiency and green space will be an important part of the developments as the company said it had “crowd sourced” ideas from staff who are renters to develop its plan.
John Lewis rental properties, at a mix of affordable and market rents, could become available before 2027 as the group is negotiating to apply the concept to other projects beyond its own estate in tandem with developers.
Nina Bhatia, the director of strategy at JLP, said: “The market for rental is growing and we have a shortage
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