From Brent Council
Blake Court
Austen House and Blake Court
We are excited to announce the proposed integration of the Austen and Blake sites with the neighbouring MWD site (Masefield House, Wordsworth House, Dickens House, Kilburn Open Space, and Carlton Vale Infant School), a pivotal step in maximizing site capacity and enhancing project viability.
Initially conceived as separate schemes, these sites are now being considered as a single, cohesive redevelopment effort aimed at delivering a transformative impact on the local community.
Project Vision
This combined redevelopment aims to create a vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive community. The proposed plans will introduce:
- mix of new residential units
- Community facilities
- Green spaces, fostering a dynamic urban environment that caters to the needs of existing and future residents.
Design and Sustainability
Leading architectural firm Karakusevic Carson Architects along with the London Borough of Brent are spearheading the design efforts. The integration of Austen and Blake with the MWD site will ensure a seamless blend of modern architecture, sustainable practices, and community-oriented spaces.
Key design elements include:
- Diverse mix of housing tenures, including affordable units, to accommodate South Kilburn residents.
- Thoughtfully designed public spaces and green areas that encourage social interaction and foster a sense of community.
- Preservation of mature trees and implementation of green building practices to minimize environmental impact.
The redevelopment will also include the construction of a replacement primary school, providing state-of-the-art educational facilities for children aged 3-11. The school will feature provisions for a nursery and support for children with special educational needs, ensuring an inclusive learning environment.
Community Engagement
We are committed to involving the local community throughout the redevelopment process. Regular consultations and feedback sessions will be held in due course to ensure that the project aligns with the aspirations and needs of the residents.
Timescales
The planning application for the combined Austen and Blake and MWD site redevelopment is anticipated to be submitted in the first quarter of 2025. The development will be phased, with the first phase expected to be completed by late 2028.
Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on this exciting journey together.
A South Kilburn resident notes:
The replacement school for Kilburn Park Junior and Carlton Vale Infants, as a primary school, may prove controversial, particularly in terms of viable pupil numbers.
6 comments:
Received by email: Hi Martin, some of the remaining tenants at Austen, Blake & Dickens have been offered relet properties in SK while others have been rehoused outside of SK. Most of those remaining will be decanted to a new home on both the NWCC scheme by the end of 2025 and some to the Carlton/Granville scheme.
However, the tenants in the CCZ scheme will have to wait until at least 2028 to be decanted as there are no more new homes available until then.
I was reading a Planning Inspectorate Decision Notice earlier and found this statement "Although there is evidence of an historic under delivery of housing in Greater London, there is no substantive evidence of a shortfall in the supply or delivery of housing in Brent." Perhaps someone could tell Towerblock and Cllr Butt, of course, not forgetting the Planning Committee, especially the Chair.
Is the demolition notice really going to expire in June? Just feels like we are never going to move.
Would be in the public interest if the Brent 'project vision' was for ready-made 60 years old 2ha South Kilburn Public Open Space to be green invested in and protected as high quality central location place/ park space for all community living in this 45 ha car-free housing tall building zone estate re-development (in year 23 of its massive zoned population growth).
'Green spaces' sounds like yet more total land war ambiguities ploughs on indifferent, with the park a Local Plan 'site allocation' since 2010, and South Kilburn as non-community, non-neighbourhood very much cast even with Labour in power at national level and with South Kilburn's MP sitting in Cabinet. South Kilburn Public Open Space is shared by Maida Hill 50 metres away, which is ranked as Britain's most overcrowded neighbourhood.
Project vision or still pure greed year 23?
Why is South Brent the only outer London borough without a Public Right of Way Map and Definitive Statement of these required rights? South Kilburn is becoming ever more difficult to move around and through as greed takes all land, all space.
Welcome to zonal planned as cast-out of social infrastructure investment Britain.
Happened upon Frank Banfield Park in Hammersmith and Fulham, almost a mirror of South Kilburn Public Open Space in its form. It has a proud sign up saying how it was built (yes built) in 1974 for the public good. St George developer towering now adjacent has funded its new pond, pathways and a wildflower meadow in 2024.
There seems to be a massive inconsistency here comparing H&F Labour Council, to how Brent can declare South Kilburn, parks and all public services infrastructure 'brownfield' for mono housing tower re-developers to take.
For example. I spoke to Vistry and they have zero interest in South Kilburn's central park opposite their one staircase tower/ overdevelopment housing sites north, " its not ours" and they are just waiting for more 'land' to be "released" (from its current capture as a long established health, recreation, wellbeing, nature access, community, sports and flood defence public park use).
Again an inconsistency here between bigger social vision St. George and no social vision Vistry regarding the same type of London park with massive population car-free housing growth happening all around both these old parks.
From the National Planning Policy Framework-
Brownfield land, so key to estate community total destruction growth has no legal definition yet in place?
The side step in the current NPPF is Brownfield land: (see Previously developed land).
Previously developed land; This excludes:…… land in built-up areas such as residential gardens, parks, recreation grounds and allotments; and land that was previously developed but where the remains of the permanent structure or fixed surface structure have blended into the landscape.
But what is brownfield land, the term policy makers and developers use?
Time for Labour in power to legally define for all interested parties, casts, classes, communities and non communities what brownfield land is legally in drafting its revised NPPF 2024, before the South Kilburn Public Open Space is towered over bit-by-bit, site allocation-by-site allocation as happening to Granville Road Public Open Space?
The PDL side-step clearly does not legally protect 60 year old estate community public parks from being brownfield land repurposed by Local bad growth decision makers.
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