The developer behind a major scheme to redevelop a shopping and leisure centre has changed its plans due to new fire safety guidance.

Landsec hopes to build 1,800 homes, two new parks, a health centre, nursery, workspaces, and a community centre on the site of the O2 Centre in Finchley Road.

It has submitted "minor changes" to its masterplan for the project, which will link Finchley Road with West End Lane, West Hampstead.

The developer said the changes will not affect the number of homes, although some will be smaller.

Each housing block will now include a second staircase, a dedicated evacuation lift lobby and an alert system for use by the fire service "to ensure that the O2 Centre Masterplan delivers the highest quality new homes".

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To accommodate the additional staircase, ten one-bedroom flats in one building will converted into ten studios.

The changes are in response to new government fire safety guidance for residential buildings and are in addition to the fire safety systems that were introduced by Landsec last year.

Landsec said the development will contribute £49 million for investment in local improvements and infrastructure and add up to £34 million of value and spend per year to the local economy.

The changes have been submitted to Camden Council, and will be determined with the main application at its planning committee later this year. 

Landsec unveiled its proposals for the redevelopment of the shopping and leisure centre in May 2020.

Residents have expressed concerns over the scale of the plans, including the overall height of the building and the density of the development.

One resident previously told the Ham&High: "We need more space for families to live in the area, not for tiny apartments.

“It’s going to be overcrowded and tall buildings are going to look oppressive, they shouldn’t be building anything more than five storeys high.”

Landsec development director Timothy Trillo said: “Whilst only guidance at this stage, we have been working closely with Camden Council since the publication of updated government advice on December 23 to ensure that our buildings respond to any future needs and deliver the highest quality new homes.  

“We will continue to work to create the best possible scheme for our future residents and borough and look forward to the application being determined later this year.”