In a unique move Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Greens have joined forces to challenge Brent Council’s decision to sell the freehold of Northwick Park Golf Centre, despite 205 objections and representations.
Brent’s three opposition groups have united in opposition to the Council’s controversial decision to sell its freehold interest in 42 acres of public open space at Northwick Park Golf Centre.
Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Green councillors are demanding greater transparency and accountability over the proposed disposal, raising serious concerns about the loss of public ownership, the financial justification for the sale and the long-term future of one of Brent’s significant green spaces.
The council approved the disposal on October 12, despite receiving 205 objections and representations during the consultation process. The decision authorises officers to market the freehold interest in the site at 280 Watford Road, which is currently subject to a long-term lease.
The three opposition groups believe the Council has yet to demonstrate why selling an income-generating public asset is preferable to retaining it for future generations. They are calling-in the decision for scrutiny.
The cross-party challenge brings together councillors from across Brent who are calling the for the decision to be reconsidered and for residents’ concerns to be properly addressed.
Cllr Keith Perrin, Councillor for Northwick Park Ward, leading the call-in said:
The Golf Centre on the A404 Watford Road forms part of an important Public Open Space with a long history of recreational use by the community. It was originally purchased in 1913 by public subscription to protect the area from development and has remained an important part and lung of North Wembley since then.
As a ward councillor who has followed this site since 1995, I have serious concerns about selling the freehold, especially while questions remain around the existing lease’s powers, the income the Council receives and outstanding enforcement matters relating to unlicensed waste.
If the freehold is sold Brent Council could easily lose control of this green space’s future. It’s designation of Metropolitan Open Land, Site of Importance for Nature Conservation and Public Open Space, along with its public footpaths could all disappear.
This is why I believe the decision to sell deserves proper scrutiny, and ultimately, reversal.
Cllr Suresh Kansagra, leader of the Brent Conservative Group, said:
We do not believe selling this site is the right decision for Brent. The Council already receives rental income from the land, while retaining the freehold also preserves its long-term value for future generations.
Once the asset is sold, that opportunity is gone. But this is not just about money. This is a large area of green and
recreational land which has been part of the local community for generations and brings real value to the surrounding neighbourhood.
We are using every formal route available within the Council to ensure this decision is properly examined and every opportunity for it to be reconsidered is exhausted.
Residents also have an important role to play. We want people who care about the future of this site to make their views known and show the Council how strongly the community feels about what happens next.
The council should be able to demonstrate clearly why selling is better than keeping an income-producing asset with long-term value. We do not believe that case has yet been made.
Cllr Anton Georgiou, leader of the Brent Liberal Democrat Group,
said:
The Labour council’s decision to sell this important piece of public land without proper consultation sets a dangerous precedence. The administration is opening the door for potential developers to have free reign over what this open space will be replaced with.
The interest of our community isn’t typically the primary concern of developers and there is a risk that this decision will allow the expansion of high-density tower blocks into the area.
The reason I am speaking out and supporting the cross-party call-in, despite it not being in my ward, is to help get greater transparency of the deal for residents and prevent this same opaque tactic from being used in our other green spaces. Residents deserve to have a say when these kinds of major changes are proposed on their doorstep.
Cllr Mary Mitchell, Leader of the Brent Green Group, said:
Northwick Park Golf Course is far more than a commercial asset on a balance sheet. It is one of Brent's most important green spaces, providing vital wildlife habitat, absorbing carbon, helping to reduce flood risk, and offering an invaluable sense of openness in an increasingly built-up borough.
As a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation and public open space, it plays a crucial role in both the ecological health of our area and the wellbeing of local residents. The proposed freehold sale risks removing a key layer of public protection and stewardship from a site that has been held for public benefit for nearly one hundred years. Once public land is sold, it is extraordinarily difficult to recover.
Residents are right to ask why Brent would relinquish control of such a significant environmental and public health asset at a time when access to green space, biodiversity recovery and climate resilience are more important than ever. We should be protecting this space, not putting its future at risk
The three opposition groups are calling on Brent Council to fully explain the financial case for the disposal, address outstanding questions surrounding the existing lease and the site’s management, and reconsider whether surrendering the freehold is in the long-term interests of residents.
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