North Brent School (Neasden Lane) planning application at Planning Committee next Wednesday

The proposed building on Neasden Lane

Chancel House

The school plan

The planning application for the new school in Neasden lane (currently, rather confusingly called North Brent School) goes to the on-line Planning Committee on Wednesday June 10th. LINK

The school will be part of the Wembley High School Academy Trust and some children are expected to travel down from the north of Brent and from Wembley High itself, as well as from Harlesden and neighbouring areas.  There has been some parental demand for a secular secondary school in the area in the past and Brent Council's pupil projections indicate the need for two more secondary schools - although that may change post-Brexit and post-Covid.

The building design looks like many of the period and there is more outdoor space than schools such as Michaela.  However, one of these spaces is a Muga (multi-use games area) on the school roof overlooking Neasden Lane.

Those familiar with the area know that Neasden Lane is one of the most polluted roads in Brent and also has heavy vehicles, including skip trucks, accessing the industrial area between the proposed school and the station.

Industrial area off Neasden Lane

Wembley Matters has already expressed concern about the proposed Ark Somerville, with a roof top playground overlooking a busy road, and this application follows a similar pattern. The question arises is why, when the Council is attempting to mitigate the impact of air pollution on existing schools, is it permitting the building of new schools on polluted roads?

The answer is partly the lack of other suitable sites and also the desire to build near transport links. There is little in the officers' report about air pollution but the Velocity Active Transport report looks at the routes to the school:

Route 1
This route connects the site to the residential areas located north of the Dudden Hill Lane / Neasden Lane roundabout. This route also connects the site to Neasden Underground Station north of the proposed development.
Clean air – According to the London Air Quality Network, this section of the carriageway fails the annual mean objective for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) air pollution indicating unacceptable air quality. This is likely due to the high volume of vehicles that travel along this main road. An investigation could be done into how the timing controls at the junction along Neasden Lane could be improved to reduce exposure to air pollution from motor vehicles. 

Route 2
This route connects the site to the residential areas located east and west of Church Road, southwest of the proposed development.
Clean air – According to the London Air Quality Network, this section of the carriageway fails the annual mean objective for NO2 air pollution indicating unacceptable air quality. This is likely due to the high volume of vehicles that travel along this main road. An investigation could be done into how the timing controls at the junction could be improved to reduce exposure to air pollution from motor vehicles. Adding some planter boxes with low level planting would also help mitigate the impact of air pollution. 

Route 3
This route connects the site to bus stops (Willesden Magistrates Court) on High Road southeast of the proposed development.
Clean air – According to the London Air Quality Network, this section of the carriageway fails the annual mean objective for NO2 air pollution indicating unacceptable air quality. This is likely due to the four signalised junctions. An investigation could be done into how the timing controls at the junction could be improved to reduce exposure to air pollution from motor vehicles. Adding some planter boxes with low level planting would also help mitigate the impact of air pollution. 

Route 4
This route connects the residential area beyond Dollis Hill underground station the east of the proposed development. This route also connects the site to the bus stop on Dudden Hill Lane (Chapter Road stop DK and DG).
Clean air – According to the London Air Quality Network, this section of carriageway fails the annual mean objective for NO2 air pollution indicating that the air quality is unacceptable. This is likely due to the high level of traffic present in this area. To further reduce air pollution, improved footway infrastructure could be introduced to encourage walking

I don't find the mitigation proposals very convincing but more worrying is not the walk to school but the exposure to pollution of both staff and pupils over a long period while in the school and its grounds.  The school building is closer to the main road than Chancel House, but the report states that these will be the 'noisy areas', with classrooms towards the back.

A proposal in original plans that 4 coaches should transport children from the north of Brent to the school in the morning and back again in the afternoon has been reduced to one after opposition from TfL and £750,000 will be paid to them to improve existing bus routes.  The 297 route is on Neasden Lane itself, 260 and 266 on Willesden High Road, and 226 and 302 on Dudden Hill Lane. Neasden Station on the Jubilee line is close by.

The proposal includes space for staff and pupil cycle parking (up to 172 for pupils)g but I challenge the planners to attempt to cycle from the Civic Centre to Chancel House and, if they survive,  report back on the experience.

Apart from the obvious positive of a brand new secondary school for Brent children, is that in an area without many mature trees, the landmark willow on the bend of Neasden Lane will be retained.