Matthew and Iain Duncan Smith, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, visited Grahame Park Estate today to announce that the estate will receive £56 million to help speed up the regeneration scheme.

The money will be used to demolish the existing homes which are in a very poor condition and replace them with new, high qualty properties.

The completed scheme will be a mixed property development and include community facilities, shops and parks.

Matthew said: "This money from the Government will mean that this project will not only be built quicker but will also be better. It will create local jobs and ultimately provide a better quality of life for the people who live here and help give them aspirations to build better lives for themselves.

"I am aware of local concerns about the pressure on doctors' surgeries, schools and transport and have raised this with the Prime Minister in the House of Commons. I am pleased that a new Children’s Centre and a new Health Centre are included in the second stage of the scheme and that Colindale station is to be rebuilt.

"This is a very exciting time for Colindale but I can assure residents that I will be monitoring the project to ensure that there are sufficient services and facilities to accommodate the influx of people to the area."

The next phase of the regeneration will include a further 389 units, including a mix of retail, a local housing office, a brand new community centre plus a new site for Barnet & Southgate College which will also house a brand new public library.