Thursday 3 August 2017

Wembley: How it feels to live on a multi-building site

Guest post by Wembley resident Jaine Lunn
 
A normal day in the life of one Wembley Central resident.

Thank god for a very rainy day, Wednesday 2nd August 2017.

 At least it keeps all the dust and fumes down from the numerous developments under construction or demolition within 500 metres of my home.

 No birdsong, lack of trees I guess, just numerous HGV’s back and forth fromeight building sites.  Parking wherever they can, engines running, irrespective of pavements or pedestrians, off loading, collecting and delivering skips, and all manner of toxic waste.  Air Quality? What’s that? Brent Council concerned about doing something about it – er I doubt it, well certainly not for the next few years, maybe in 2021 when most of these developments will have been completed.


Cotterell House,
Formerly unused and home to Blue Rooms Restaurant
Wembley Hill Road

Currently under demolition
55 Residential,
6/8/10 storeys
Mahatma Gandi House
Former Brent Council Housing Offices
Wembley Hill Road
Under demolition
198 Residential
10 & 21 storeys
South West Lands
(Quintain)
Area around Chiltern Cutting and South Way
South Way
Under construction
800+ Residential
Up to 19 storeys
Brent House
Former One Stop Shop for most council services
Wembley High Road
Under demolition
248 Residential
Various sizes no more than 13 storeys = to Elizabeth House
Jenga Court
Converted office block
Wembley High Road
under construction
34 Residential
6 Storeys
Lanmor House
Converted office block
Wembley High Road
Under construction
36 Residential
6 storeys
Ark Elvin Academy
Former Coplands School
 To rear of Wembley High Road
Under construction

Chesterfield House
Former Brent Council
Wembley High Road and Park Lane
239 Residential units
21 and 26 storeys
8 total in progress

Total 1,610 Units



Jenga Court and Lanmor House were granted planning permission under permitted development so Brent Council had no say in what was being built or size of flats etc, and could not demand amenity space, storage or reduce existing car parking provison.

In actually reading Wembley Calling and Wembley Master Plan regeneration etc etc:

How many of these developments meet the 25% stated for 3 bed+ homes desperately needed in this area?

How many have allowed 10% for disabled use?

How many meet the minimum requirements of amenity space and storage for the amount of residents that will inhabit these properties?

As many of these buildings will be “Car Free Developments” ……we all know what that old chestnut means.  Where will all these people park their cars?  Wembley is already at astronomic proportions of gridlock during peak hours on a normal day, let alone Event days. 

Buses and Trains are heaving with people on a daily basis.  TfL need to have a re-think of how they are going to deliver public transport in this area when its population is expanding at a phenomenal rate.

Whilst I accept that Wembley is one of the best locations for service by Public Transport with its numerous train stations and buses, in its present form it does not provide the kind of service that makes people want to give up their cars. Many of my neighbours who live in the CPZ and all have permits to park, need their vehicles to get to work.  Many work unsociable hours at Heathrow Airport or in companies providing 24 hour services/logistics often starting between 3.00 and 5.00 am when public transport is not available to get them to their destinations, or bring them home past midnight, only to find out they cannot park as the CPZ ends at 6.30 p.m. creating a “free for all” if you can find a space that is.

1 comment:

Trevor said...

I must say that I agree with Jaine on several issues,
such as the seemingly endless buildings site dotted throughout Wembley.
I know that it's part of the council's 'vision' for the future of Brent
but i'm not sure if will be worth the time, money, and inconvenience when it is completed?
I call to mind the former council estate known as Chalkhill and how that reflected Brent council's 'vision' for social housing in the mid 20th century.
In my opinion, the London borough of brent is a huge building site full of the ideas of a long line of councillors that failed to live up to the expectations of the local residents.
Chalk Hill though gone will always remain in my memory as a reminder of man's inability to successfully play God over us.