The Granville Rec last summer
12-4pm Saturday 18 April 2026 Community Open Day, Granville Road, NW6 5RA
A South Kilburn community campaign spearheaded by Granville Community Kitchen, Kilburn Housing Co-op and Princess Road Residents Association is fighting to stop the re-development of Granville Rec, a long-established inner-city green space. Managed since 2023 by the Granville Community Kitchen (GCK), the Rec is a living, working community garden supporting local food production through raised vegetable beds and fruit trees, gardening for wellbeing, physical activity, outdoor learning for children and students. It offers everyday social connection in a neighbourhood where open space has already been systematically reduced.
Brent Council plans to build 14 four storey houses on the site as part of a 2500 home redevelopment of the area. It says that the loss of the Rec would be mitigated by alternative green space elsewhere. But its plans for an “Urban Park” consists of three small areas of planting separated by a road and newly planted trees, and does not provide ecological continuity or compensate for the loss of a mature, biodiverse site.
Leslie Barson on behalf of GCK says:
While we recognise the pressing need for genuinely affordable family housing and the commitment to provide 16 social rent townhouses for existing South Kilburn tenants, this cannot justify erasing a thriving, community-led green space which already delivers significant social, health and ecological benefits. Replacing such a space is a major loss that deserves genuine co-design with the people who use it daily. We are confident that, within the next phase of regeneration, the 16 homes can be accommodated on a more appropriate site in South Kilburn, allowing the Granville Rec to be retained and safeguarded for the community.
Residents are also concerned that some of those most affected, including residents of Princess Road , part of which overlooks the Rec, were never consulted about the Council’s plans.
What’s happening on 18 April Open Day
- Updates and discussion about the future of the garden
- Guided garden walk
- Bug hunt and biodiversity exploration
- Sharing of garden-grown vegetables
- Hands-on gardening activities
- Banner making for the Save the Rec campaign
Join us for National Day of Action to Save Green Spaces across the country as well as Saving the Rec!
STOP PRESS: Campaigners will be at the Election Hustings on Thursday 23 April to ask all local candidates to commit to saving the Rec.
6.30 - 8pm Marian Community Centre, Stafford Road, NW6 5RS
4 comments:
MEANWHILE DEVELOPER PUBLIC LAND TAKE - this is the pre-site 'look' as used in SK.
The 2ha park across the road, not locked-up like the above one, but instead open to all 24/7, is a special non investment case. Green flag or new planting a not happening there.
Not public open, but notice the flats, many more not shown too including a new 17 storey tower called Orwell House, no joke.
A movable feast, but a local people lock -out. SAD when such kitchen gardens across London are usually freely open to local people during day-time hours to enjoy. Key to remember too that SK is car-free re-development i.e. it is not a car owner full conservation area.
The hostile lock-out of local people ongoing here tells all regarding the terminal fate of this meant to be public open space in Labours dystopian vision for SK zoned-out and NO.
This picture does not tell the story. Its a marketing image for a site allocation on a public open space.
Time for Brent to major green invest in open 24/7 to all 2ha SKPOS, otherwise known as Kilburn Park in what is afterall regeneration year 25!
The time of Labour meanwhiling scarce precious public open spaces in car-free towers SK should be over.
UPDATE. The Brent public lock-out from this Brent public open space continues....
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