The curious case of the six Kenton houses that will be built in a day

 

The six proposed houses   - current garage site (bottom right)

The development next to the Wealdstone Brook - current footpath bottom right
 

The proposed development with rather sparse biodiversity corridor  - current brook bottom right

John Poole (Labour candidate for Kenton ward) drew readers' attention to plans for th building of 6 houses behind 37-44 Woodgrange Close, Kenton in a recent letter to Wembley Matters. LINK  

At the time the appplication has been declared invalid but has now been vaidated and is back on Brent's Planning Portal LINK. However, whether one is for or against the development, the Planning Application completed by the developer's agent  raises issues about validity and the checks made by council officers as the information is of doubtful accuracy.

MZA Planning of 14 Devonshire Mews Chiswick, W4 2HA submit that the demolition of the grags and building of the 6 houses will be completed in a day:

 They claim that the area is not liable to flooding:

 

The Government Flood Map LINK shows there is a Level 2 of 3 risk now and more so in the future. And the Application Map and illustrations above shows it is right next to the Wealdstone Brook watercourse. Hard to miss really...

 In fact the Design and Access Statement shows that the houses will be raised above ground level to avoid flooding.

The steps up from the 'high quality amenity space'

 The next one might be a matter of debate as to whether designated sites may be affected:

 

The site surrounded by trees, St Gregory's school field and Woodcock Park

Lastly the agent claims that the site is not accessible without an appointment.

Footpath to the bridge and there is vehicle access to the garages

 In case you missed it John Poole added a comment on the previous article:

 

Cllr. Janice Long and I, John Poole, two prospective Labour Councillors for the Kenton Ward at the local elections next May, visited the site  and spoke with local residents at the Mural Bridge whose use Woodcock Park on a regular basis and they were shocked and surprised at the prospect of housing at that site and so close to the Wealdstone Brook. Cllr. Long wonders what else could the site be used for - the disused garages go back to the 1950s - and we all agreed that it is an ideal area for a greening project to add to Brent Council's increase in biodiversity in the area and supporting the Council's Carbon Net Zero policy.

LETTER: Alerting readers to the negative impact of proposed Kenton development on the Wealdstone Brook

 

Google Earth view. Trees indicate the course of the brook. Disused garages on right.

 

Dear Editor,

I am writing to draw attention to a  Planning Application for 6 privately built terraced housing units close to the Wealdstone Brook in the disused garage area at the back of Woodgrange Close in Kenton. This proposed development abuts the Woodgrange side of Woodcock Park and abuts the Wealdstone Brook close to the Mural Bridge. It was available to view up to today (18/12/25) but has now been withdrawn as 'invalid'.

Application reference 25/3407 is currently invalid, and as such will not appear on the public register. Once the application is made valid the Local Planning Authority will carry out a statutory consultation, at which time the documents will be available to view on the public record.

An attempt to produce this controversial development has been thwarted for the time being but we need to be vigilant about it being presented once again in the New Year with short notice. This proposed private housing development will have a negative major impact on the Wealdstone Brook here and further downstream in Wembley.

John Poole

(and you can print my name - thanks)

Kenton

Full address supplied.