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| Land and property at Northwick Park |
The 'One Public Estate' (OPE) strategy adopted by the Brent Cabinet in January with little discussion (it was item number 16) has made little impact on the public so far, but that will change as details become more widely available.
Basically all the public sector owned property in one area - council, health, police, fire, education is put into one pot and then looked at in terms of rationalising and maximising the assets. In health this overlaps with the 'delivery' of the controversial Sustainability and Transformation Plans, in education the supply of school places, and in regeneration the supply of affordable and temporary housing but prhaps 'subsidised' by some privare housing,
Although referred to as 'public sector property' perhaps it should be termed 'public property' with the public having a major say in what might amount to the privatisation and monetisation of public assets.
The Cabinet paper said:
OPE is an
initiative delivered in partnership by the Cabinet Office Government Property
Unit (GPU) and the Local Government Association (LGA). It provides practical
and technical support and funding to councils to deliver ambitious
property-focused programmes in collaboration with central government and other
public sector partners.
Brent failed in a bid for Wembley (it was called 'unambitious') but succeeded in getting £270,000 over three years for a 'Northwick Park regeneration programme':
Local people will be keen to get some detail, especially on how it will affect the green space in Northwick Park and other local assets:
The Cabinet Report describes the project (my emphasis):
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Northwick
Park based around the agglomeration of public sector ownership at Northwick
Park, delivering a wide variety of benefits including for example: growth via
new homes and development; efficiencies via generation of capital receipts; and
integrated services via a new energy centre. Current Partners are: London
Borough of Brent, Northwick Park Hospital, University of Westminster, Network
Homes Ltd, with anticipated future partners: London Borough of Harrow,
Transport for London, Greater London Authority, Care and Commissioning Group
(CCG)
Northwick
Park Pavilion Community Asset Transfer
It should
be noted that the Northwick Park Pavilion is currently included in the
Community Asset Transfer (CAT) Programme. There is potential for a joint
approach to the provision of sport at Northwick Park, with considerable demand
generated by the University and Hospital. The pavilion could play a significant
role in such provision. Brent’s land holdings at Northwick Park are
substantial, but are largely made up of playing fields, and the pavilion is one
of the few pieces of built infrastructure that Brent can add to the OPE mix.
Accordingly it is proposed that the Pavilion be withdrawn from the CAT
programme.
The
original CAT proposal was submitted by the Parnell Gaelic Football club (PGFA),
and reported to Cabinet on 8th February 2016, when it was resolved
to approve the marketing of the Northwick Park Pavilion (Main Hall and
Ancillary Areas) as a CAT opportunity for a seven year lease. Discussions have
recently been held with the PGFA, who have confirmed their understanding that
the Council’s position on the CAT is under review, and as an alternative they
are prepared to submit a proposal to lease the premises, after suitable
marketing by the Council. It is believed that offering a five year lease with
an option to determine at the third year would provide sufficient security for
the PGFA whilst at the same time ensuring its availability for the wider
Northwick Park project.
Clearly residents will be interested in the proposed new energy centre and will want details of any environmental impact.
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It is also unclear whether any of these plans will impact on Northwick Park Open Space itself. The 'landmark residential development' with shops and cafes sounds quite a major development - and will some of the homes be private and unaffordable for local people?
There's certainly scope for some key questioning of candidates at the Northwick Park ward Labour selection meeting on Monday, where the deputy leader, Margaret McLennan, is one of the candidates.
Another area that Brent Council is also sponsoring as a possible project is Vale Farm which again has a considerable amount of green open space owned by the Council.
The Brent Property and Asset Strategy 2015-19 specifically mentioned Vale Farm but also mentioned other open spaces that are a 'maintenance liability'. Definitely a matter of 'watch this SPACE'!
There is scope to consider the re-planning and re-provision of the combined sports
facilities at Vale Farm and there may be scope to consider similar opportunities in
Roe Green and King Edward Parks. In addition there are a small number of open
spaces across the Borough which remain under-utilised and potentially are a
maintenance liability and this strategy proposes a review of this with a view to
exploring their potential for either alternative uses in line with Borough Plan and
Regeneration priorities, or alternatively Community Asset Transfer.
