Work is set to start shortly at the former Royal Horse Artillery barracks on Avenue Road including the demolition of buildings and asbestos removal. The 2.2-hectare site is at the heart of St John’s Wood and will become a luxury development of 120 homes as well as 100 affordable homes, 41 of which will be located off-site in a converted building on the Old Marylebone Road. The barracks’ restoration includes the re-purposing of the Grade II listed Riding School as a private swimming pool which will be available for use by local residents and schools. The development will form its own parking zone and residents will not be entitled to apply for permits outside of this zone. The barracks date from 1812 and became the Cavalry Riding Establishment in 1823 and in 1824 a Riding School. The property was continuously occupied as a barracks until 2012, when the King’s Troop relocated to Woolwich. In its 180 years of use the barracks had several occupants, including: the Infantry Battalion, the Life Guards, the Brigade of Royal Horse Artillery and then the King’s Troop.
