Alperton Bus Garage development and neighbours 3 years on -

 

Planning permission was granted for the redevelopment of Alperton bus garage in April 2021. The Planning Committee were informed that previous policy had a 14 storey limit on the height of buildings in the area. However, planning officers said that the 'emerging' local plan allowed for tall buildings on the site. Buildings  of 21, 25 and 28 storeys were approved. It is so close to Alperton station that residents are likely to be able to abseil on to the platform!

See 'Your neighbourhood turned upside down. Have your say on local plan'

 Cllr Maurice voted against the application on grounds 'of over-development, height and its destruction of the area's once pleasant suburban character.'

 Alperton councillor Anton Georgiou presented the case against the application quoting the views of local residents.  Many cited over-development, height and density as concerns. See:

Alperton residents' trenchant views on the Alperton Bus Garage planning application fail to stop approval of the development

 

 Above and below are views of the development as it takes shape.

Opposite the site is Minavil House where a low rise commercial site was demolished and replaced with a development that included a 27 storey tower, This development was valued at £64m.

From the Grand Union canal (developer before the bus garage development)

Last week

 

Emerging heights in the tall building zone (Alperton High School bottom right)

There several pipeline developments in the area. One on Ealing Road, wedged between two new developments is a  former  HSBC bank and the Plough public house.

In 2018 plans were approved for two buildings of 9 and 10 storeys on the site with a total of 92 flats. A member of the public asked a question at Full Council after doubts were raised about the application See:

Uproar over Brent's Alperton high rise approval, despite application “failing to meet requirements in 13 different matters”

 Councillor Tatler, Lead Member for Regeneration, Growth, Employment and Skills:, in her response said:

Planning applications of this size raise a number of complex, and often competing issues; in this case, involving the redevelopment of the site to provide two buildings, 9 and 10 storeys, for 92 new flats, a pub and a community use, it raised many issues – the appearance and build of the new buildings, the amount of residential provided, the mix of units, parking arrangements, etc. Officers and Committee members balance all of the different issues, including the planning objections, and make their decision against national, regional and local policies. These issues are often finely balanced, and opinions will often differ as to the merits of a particular case. 

 

Sometimes, one policy objective, (e.g. securing additional housing, or maintaining a public house on the site) might be given more weight than, for example, a reduced level of parking. In this case, the planning merits of the proposal were carefully considered. Officers made some pragmatic judgments around the proposal to achieve, on this allocated site in a housing zone, some 92 new units – a quarter of which are affordable – that works on the site. The committee report makes it clear that whilst some policies are not met, many are, and taking the scheme in its entirety, members felt that the benefits outweighed any harm.

The question does not mention what safety regulations are broken here. However, it is a long established – and correct – principle, that planning does not duplicate requirements set out in other regulations and laws; these will be assessed by other bodies at the appropriate time, whether that be under Building Regulations or Health and Safety rules.

A new application for the site was lodged in August 2024, for two buildings of up to 10 storeys on the site. Planning Officers noted that the previous application had lapsed  because of new fire regulations and the requirement for additional evacuation cores. LINK

In addition to this development  the Boat/Pleasure Boat pub, opposite the bus garage has been demolished and the site is now behind hoardings.

 The last proposal I saw was in a consultation for a 22 storey tower and a replacement pub. Here, as at the Plough site this will probably be re-designated as a 'comunity facility'.

 

 

No pub to replace The Plough in Ealing Road as Planning Application for numbers 245-249 and 253 goes to Brent Planning Committee

 

To be demolished - MOT Test Centre, Plough pub and HSBC Bank

Some of the remaining low rise buildings of Ealing Road, near Alperton Station and opposite Sainsbury's will be replaced by two 10 storey blocks if a planning application nefore Brent Planning Committee on Wednesday is approved.

Despite Brent's  promise of a Pub Protection policy the Plough public house will not be replaced by licensed premises but by a 'community facility' in the ground floor of Block A. There will be an 'affordable working space' and car park on the ground floor of Block B. Chair of Brent Planning Committee, Cllr Kelcher, has previous fought for the preservation of pubs. LINK  Former councillor James Powney had  suggested previously that Brent Council's reluctance to adopt such a policy was because it did not want a replacement for The Falcon pub which forms part of the South Kilburn regeneration plans. LINK.

A total of 84 objections have been received principally raising concerns regarding scale & design, loss of light and views, transport and access impacts and a lack of supporting facilities.

The amount of 'affordable housing' is less than half and contains shared ownership properties that many now claim shoudl not be designated affordable.

H/R is Habitable Room

 

Brent Council announces 'Days of Action' in areas worst affected by Covid19 to reinforce rules

Brent Council Press Release (unedited)

Some of the areas worst affected by the coronavirus pandemic in Brent will receive additional support, as part of the Keep Brent Safe initiative.

A team of council officers made up of staff from across a range of services, including enforcement officers, will be out and about to remind individuals of the social distancing rules, hand out free ‘Keep Brent Safe’ face coverings and ensure businesses and individuals are complying with restrictions.

The teams will be in Church End on Wednesday 7 October, Harlesden Town Centre on Thursday 8 October and Ealing Road on Friday 9 October.

Brent’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, Culture and Leisure Councillor Neil Nerva said:

I want to thank everyone in the borough for continuing to do their bit to keep Brent safe.  The vast majority of individuals and businesses have made big sacrifices to comply with the rules to protect themselves, and their loved ones. However, we know that some people still need more information and support – which will be provided by our teams across these days of action.

Where individuals and businesses continue to refuse to follow the rules, more serious enforcement could take place including escalating situations to the Police.

Businesses that are putting individuals at risk by not following the rules can be reported to the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133 or by emailing trading.standards@brent.gov.uk  

Large gatherings should be reported to Brent’s Community Safety team by calling 0208 937 1058 or emailing community.safety@brent.gov.uk

Residents are invited to share their own local initiatives, that are providing support to individuals during the pandemic, using #BrentTogether on social media.

Henry Cooper of Wembley - new article available online

Guest post from Local Historian Philip Grant

A few weeks ago, Wembley Matters broke the news that a new Blue Plaque (the first in Wembley for 40 years) had been put up in Ealing Road, remembering former resident, professional boxer and greengrocer, Henry Cooper LINK .

Now an illustrated article, “Henry Cooper of Wembley”, is available online, for anyone who wants to find out more about the life of the man, his links with Wembley and the reason that the commemorative Blue Plaque above his former shop at 4 Ealing Road is a deserved memorial to him. You can find it on the local history articles page of the Brent Archives website LINK .

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A new Blue Plaque in Wembley – remembering Henry Cooper

Guest post by Philip Grant

For the past 40 years, Wembley has only had one Blue Plaque commemorating a famous former resident*. This week it got its second!

Thanks to the efforts of local resident, Tony Royden, the plaque was installed on the wall above a shop at 4 Ealing Road, near the junction with Wembley High Road:

        A new Blue Plaque in Wembley – remembering Henry Cooper

Photo of the plaque, courtesy of Tony Royden

As well as fighting some of his most famous boxing matches in Wembley (at Wembley Arena, and most memorably against Cassius Clay - later known as Muhammed Ali - in front of 55,000 people at Wembley Stadium in 1963), Henry Cooper lived at 5 Ledway Drive (near Preston Road) from 1960 until 1975.

He is probably less famous for his three years as a greengrocer (while still British and Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion), at the shop which he opened on 9 November 1965. His former home is a bit off the beaten track, so the plaque above the shop is a much better location to publicise this famous Wembley resident.

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Cuttings on the shop’s opening from the “Wembley Observer” and “Wembley News”, November 1965

* If you don't know who Wembley’s first blue plaque commemorates, or where it is, you can find the answer on the Brent Archives website LINK .

Philip Grant

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Supplementary school seeks volunteer teachers

 

The Supplementary School above is looking for volunteer teachers  or teaching assistants:

As a registered charity which has been running for the past 5 years, we have reached a point where we need to look further afield for teachers as our usual resource (high schools, friends, family) appears to be drying up.  Our search is for voluntary teachers whether qualified or newly qualified to support the school across the core subjects of Maths, English and Science. 

ICT underpins all lessons as laptops are regularly used.  We are also happy to accept unqualified teachers working as Teaching  
Assistants. Travel expenses are paid on a termly basis.

Contact Joan Poorman on poormanj@live.co.uk or telephone 07989 323 910 or 07984 441 688