Guest post by Wembley resident Jaine Lunn
A normal day in the life of one Wembley Central resident.
Thank god for a very rainy day, Wednesday 2nd August 2017.
At least it keeps all the dust
and fumes down from the numerous developments under construction or demolition
within 500 metres of my home.
No birdsong, lack of trees I guess, just numerous HGV’s back and forth
fromeight building sites. Parking wherever
they can, engines running, irrespective of pavements or pedestrians, off
loading, collecting and delivering skips, and all manner of toxic waste. Air Quality? What’s that? Brent Council
concerned about doing something about it – er I doubt it, well certainly not
for the next few years, maybe in 2021 when most of these developments will have
been completed.
Cotterell House,
Formerly unused and
home to Blue Rooms Restaurant
|
Wembley Hill Road
Currently under
demolition
|
55 Residential,
6/8/10 storeys
|
Mahatma Gandi House
Former Brent Council
Housing Offices
|
Wembley Hill Road
Under demolition
|
198 Residential
10 & 21 storeys
|
South West Lands
(Quintain)
Area around Chiltern
Cutting and South Way
|
South Way
Under construction
|
800+ Residential
Up to 19 storeys
|
Brent House
Former One Stop Shop
for most council services
|
Wembley High Road
Under demolition
|
248 Residential
Various sizes no
more than 13 storeys = to Elizabeth House
|
Jenga Court
Converted office
block
|
Wembley High Road
under construction
|
34 Residential
6 Storeys
|
Lanmor House
Converted office
block
|
Wembley High Road
Under construction
|
36 Residential
6 storeys
|
Ark Elvin Academy
Former Coplands
School
|
To rear of Wembley High Road
Under construction
|
|
Chesterfield House
Former Brent Council
|
Wembley High Road
and Park Lane
|
239 Residential units
21 and 26 storeys
|
8 total in progress
|
Total 1,610 Units
|
Jenga Court and Lanmor House were granted planning permission
under permitted development so Brent Council had no say in what was being
built or size of flats etc, and could not demand amenity space, storage or
reduce existing car parking provison.
In actually reading Wembley Calling and Wembley Master Plan regeneration
etc etc:
How many of these developments meet the 25% stated for 3 bed+ homes
desperately needed in this area?
How many have allowed 10% for disabled use?
How many meet the minimum requirements of amenity space and storage for
the amount of residents that will inhabit these properties?
As many of these buildings will be “Car Free Developments” ……we all know
what that old chestnut means. Where will
all these people park their cars? Wembley is already at astronomic proportions
of gridlock during peak hours on a normal day, let alone Event days.
Buses and Trains are heaving with people on a daily basis. TfL need to have a re-think of how they are
going to deliver public transport in this area when its population is
expanding at a phenomenal rate.
Whilst I accept that Wembley is one of the best locations for service by
Public Transport with its numerous train stations and buses, in its present
form it does not provide the kind of service that makes people want to give up
their cars. Many of my neighbours who live in the CPZ and all have permits to park, need their vehicles to get to work.
Many work unsociable hours at Heathrow Airport or in companies providing
24 hour services/logistics often starting between 3.00 and 5.00 am when public
transport is not available to get them to their destinations, or bring them
home past midnight, only to find out they cannot park as the CPZ ends at 6.30
p.m. creating a “free for all” if you can find a space that is.
