WEMBLEY MATTERS News and views on local politics, the environment, climate change, culture and local history
23rd Wembley & 3rd Harrow scouts are excited to be running a charity bazaar raising money for Palestine, and we need your help!
🇵🇸 Venue: *Faizan-e-Madinah, 8-10 Forty Ave, London HA9 8JW* Date: * Sunday 14th Dec* Time: *12-6pm*
🛍️Shopping & Food Stalls
🎯Soft Archery
🪓Axe Throw
🖌️Mehndi
🏰Bouncy Castle
Loads of fun for the family to take the winter blues away from us and those in need and the best bit *ALL proceeds go to Palestine*
FREE ENTRY TICKETS https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/palestine-charity-fair-tickets-1975872773655
The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) is hiring paid community researchers to understand how the government can improve people’s living standards in Brent. We are looking for people with recent experience of receiving benefits and/or working in minimum-wage jobs. All information will be anonymised and deleted after the project's end. If you have any questions, please email socialresearch@niesr.ac.uk or call us on 02039484481.
This is the link to sign up: https://forms.office.com/e/9EDtAx6Ebw.
Metropolitan Housing Trust who run the Chalkhill Estate as Metropolitan Housing Thames Valley have submitted an application for the demolition of 105 garages and re-use of other space to build 61 infill homes on the 'science blocks' site on Chalkhill Road.
The estate was designed with a considerable amount of green space and there are many trees, some of which will be removed. Of the 105 garages 71 are currently unused and the application claims only 18 are used for car parking.
The garages are quite close to existing blocks and will be demolished and replaced by housing
Existing garages and car park in blue above
There are CGIs of some of the buildings in the application papers:
Einstein House Objection
I am writing to formally object to the above planning application, specifically the proposal to construct Block E directly behind Einstein House. My objection is based on the following planning concerns:
1. Loss of Light (Daylight and Sunlight Impact)
The proposed Block E will significantly reduce the amount of daylight and sunlight received by residents in Einstein House. The block is approximately three times the height of the current garages and will be located in close proximity to habitable rooms, including bedrooms and living rooms.
During consultation, we were informed that a daylight/sunlight report was conducted. However, no such report assessing the impact on existing homes has been included in the planning documents. The only report presented appears to relate to light within the proposed new blocks. This is a critical omission, as the council must be satisfied that BRE guidelines regarding adequate light to habitable rooms are being met. The height and massing of the proposed development will cast significant shadows over Einstein House, especially during winter months, severely affecting the quality of life for residents.
2. Loss of Privacy and Overlooking
Block E will be positioned approximately 12 metres from Einstein House. This is well below the 18-21 metre standard separation distance typically recommended between directly facing windows of habitable rooms. The proposed design includes balconies and windows that will directly face into the bedrooms and living rooms of existing residents. These rooms are considered habitable spaces and therefore deserve protection from unreasonable overlooking. No mitigation measures (e.g. frosted glass, angled balconies, or screening) appear to have been proposed to reduce this impact.
3. Noise Pollution and Anti-Social Behaviour - New Footpath
The plans propose the removal of the current secure gated area at the rear of Einstein House and its replacement with a public footpath. This significantly impacts residents' privacy, safety, and wellbeing.
Opening this area to public access may encourage anti-social behaviour, especially during evenings, and will create ongoing noise and disturbance. The proposed new lighting for the path while necessary for safety will further affect residents in ground floor flats through light pollution and reduced sleep quality. There is also no detail in the application on how this new public space will be managed or maintained to ensure current resident's safety.
4. Parking Pressure
There are already major parking constraints in the area. The proposed development does not include a robust parking strategy. While a small number of designated spaces appear in the plans, there is no clarity on whether new residents will be restricted from using existing street or estate parking.This will almost certainly exacerbate existing pressures, especially as no Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) or traffic management scheme is proposed. The application also appears to lack a comprehensive Transport Assessment to evaluate local capacity.
5. Poor Site Planning - Disproportionate Impact of Block E
While the wider development includes some open and green space, the positioning of Block E raises serious concerns. Unlike the other proposed blocks, Block E has been placed extremely close to existing homes in Einstein House just 12 metres away and at a height that is significantly taller than the current garages it replaces.
This placement creates an unbalanced development where one group of residents (in Einstein House) bears a disproportionate burden of the scheme's impact, including loss of light, privacy, and increased noise.
The council should require a review of the mass and siting of Block E to reduce its uniquely high impact and ensure a fairer and more sensitive design approach, especially when other blocks in the proposal do not create similar issues.
6. Lack of Transparent Consultation
Residents were not meaningfully consulted on key elements of the proposal. Several important documents such as the daylight/sunlight assessment for existing residents and detailed traffic or security plans were not shared during the consultation period.
This raises serious concerns about the transparency and fairness of the process, especially considering the significant impact this proposal will have on existing residents' lives.
7. Impact on Mental Wellbeing and Quality of Life
The combined effect of reduced daylight, increased noise, loss of privacy, and general overdevelopment will severely affect the mental wellbeing and quality of life of residents in Einstein House. These concerns should be taken seriously in line with Brent Council's Local Plan objectives and commitment to high-quality, healthy living environments.
Objections raised here fall in line with Brent's Local plan policies, London Plan policy and BRE daylight and sunlight guidelines.
For the reasons set out above, I respectfully urge Brent Council to refuse this application in its current form, or at the very least, require significant redesign and another consultation to mitigate its serious impacts on existing residents.
Einstein House Residents
Dear Editor,
From the Metropolitan Police
Detectives investigating the murder of a 22-year-old man in Wembley have made two arrests.
At around 12:55hrs on Monday, 1 December, officers were called to High Road, Wembley, to reports of a stabbing.
A 22-year-old man was treated at the scene but later died in hospital. His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.
Earlier today (Tuesday, 2 December) a 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder at an address in Harrow, NW9. A woman, aged 21, was arrested at the same address on suspicion of assisting an offender. Both remain in custody.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Waller, from the Met’s Homicide Command said: “We are grateful for the help we have already received from the local community and while we are not looking for anyone else in relation to this matter, I would encourage those who have not yet spoken to police to come forward as soon as possible.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who leads policing for the area said: “We know this murder has caused shock and concern for residents and our officers are here to support those who live and work in the area. There will be an increased police presence at a number of locations – please do speak to these officers if you have any worries or issues.
“You can also speak directly to local ward officers by signing up to and using Met Engage.
“Our thoughts of course remain with the victim’s loved ones at this difficult time, and our specialist officers will continue to support them.”
Anyone with information can also contact 101, quoting 3333/1DEC25 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The Lilburne Walk shoppig parade owned by Brent Council
Sale of alcohol was restricted to 9am to 8pm rather than the 9am-11pm hours that applicant wanted.A proposed beer fridge is to be located with other alcohol and not near the front of the shop as proposedAll alcohol sold must have a shop identification
The licence holder to be responsible for clearing rubbish within 5 metres of the shop front even if it is on public or private land
The licence holder will also be responsible for any botttles or cans found elsehwre on the estate that bear his shop identification
If the above conditions are breached campaigners will be able to apply for a review of te licence that could lead to it being revoked.
I will continue to push for changes to the council tender process for their own commercial assets. A resident panel must be formed for each ward and have the ability to play an advisory role early on in the process rather that retrospectvely at a planning committee.
The NHS has proposed that the current hours at Central Middlesex Hospital UTC (below) are reduced by 3 hours a day despite these pressures and the increase in the local populations from the new developments taking place locally. This means the UTC will close at 9pm with the last patients registered at 8pm. See LINK
https://tinyurl.com/protect-urgent-care
Brent Council Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee must consider proposals to reduce the opening hours of Central Middlesex Hospital Urgent Treatment Centre
We the undersigned petition Brent Council’s Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee to convene an urgent meeting of the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee to consider NHS proposals to cut the opening hours of the Urgent Treatment Centre at Central Middlesex Hospital by 3 hours a day, 21 hours a week.
In 2014, Central Middlesex Hospital A&E Department closed following a decision from the then Conservative Heath Secretary Jeremy Hunt. At the time, we were told that the opening of an Urgent Care Centre at Central Middlesex hospital would mitigate the loss of the A&E department. However, in 2019, the hours of the Urgent Care Centre were reduced when the overnight Service Centre was withdrawn. Six years down the line, we are faced with yet another reduction of the renamed Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC). The Centre currently closes at midnight but, if London NW University Healthcare Trust go ahead with their proposal, it will close at 9pm.
We the undersigned are therefore firmly opposed to a further reduction of NHS services that will undoubtedly put more pressure on Northwick Park Hospital A&E and UTC and will lead to fewer people getting the required medical attention as quickly as necessary and call on the current plans to reduce the UTC hours by 3 hours each evening to form the agenda of a specially convened Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee to be held as soon as possible.
We note that the 2019 proposals were considered by that Committee in July 2019 setting a precedent for the views of the Council and residents to be represented.
People who live, work or study in Brent can sign the petition here:
https://tinyurl.com/protect-urgent-care
