The perils of permitted development - local housing needs lose out

 

Jenga House, 356 High Road, Wembley

2015 Report 25 units for residential use

 

'Apartments'  from £170 per night as advertised on 'Urban Stays'

Back in 2015 developers were given prior approval under permitted development for conversion of the the former Brent House Annex in High Road, Wembley from office space to residential use.  I emphasise residential because it has been used for short-term lets for a minimum of £170 a night for one bedroom and £200 a night for two bedrooms. The agent was Urban Stays but now a new agent appears to have taken over.

A local informant tells Wembley Matters:

Recently I have discovered from my neighbours in Jenga Court  that all of their rental agreements are not being renewed, and discovered that although all these properties were on sale on Zoopla for ridiculous prices, the property has been bought by Flying Butler LINK

Is this just another way of having permanent AirBNB, as before some of these were Valet Apartments?, and does this conversion have any impact on the planning that was granted? 

They are currently all being refurbished, decorated etc so not actually available as yet.

Sure enough Flying Butler is now advertising in advance of completion of the refurbishment  but apartment rates have not yet been publshed:

 

 Like the Krisha Court development in Queens Walk, Kingsbury that received planning permission for residential flats but now used a Airb&B short term lets (query to Brent Council regarding non-compliance with planning permission still not answered)  these are short-lets as reflected in the last sentence of  the blurb : '..you'll have plenty to keep you entertained during your visit.'

What is really annoying is that both developments deprive local people of possible long-term housing and as with other planning approvals there seems no follow up from planning officers to ensure that tenure is as granted and that any planning obligations are fulfilled.