A shopping centre is set to have 320 of its car park spaces axed to make way for hundreds of new homes.

The O2 Centre site in Finchley Road is earmarked for a major redevelopment, which involves knocking down many of the existing buildings to make way for housing.

The first phase of the project will see around 600 homes built at the centre of the site, where the former Homebase store and hundreds of car park spaces can be found.

Developer Landsec has now submitted a planning application to Camden Council, asking for permission to reconfigure the shopping centre’s existing car park.

This would see the number of spaces serving Sainsbury’s, the O2 Centre and car showrooms reduced from 520 to 200.

It is expected that work to create the new layout will begin at the start of next year, with the car park expected to be in place for the next five to ten years.

An improved pedestrian route, complete with timber pergolas and new lighting, is also included in the plans.

A CGI image of the new pedestrian route next to the car parkA CGI image of the new pedestrian route next to the car park (Image: Landsec)

In total, the redevelopment of the O2 site will see 1,800 new homes built, with plans to also improve access at nearby Tube stations.

Comments on the car park reconfiguration application (2024/3534/P) can be made until September 23.

More details of the plans can be found on Camden Council’s online planning portal.

A Landsec spokesperson said: “This application is an exciting first step that will unlock the space needed for phase 1 of the O2 Centre Masterplan, which will deliver 192 much-needed affordable homes.

"The O2 Centre itself will still remain open for years to come and we’re working to revitalise it so that it can be a re-imagined new and thriving place for the community.

"The reconfigured car park will have no impact on people’s ability to use the Centre.”