Butt announces Lunt will succeed Dave as regeneration chief at Brent Council

Brent Council has made the following announcement for what is the most powerful and influential job on the Council and one in which Muhammed Butt, leader of the council, maintains an extremely close interest:

From the Council website:

lan Lunt, the former Deputy Chief Executive of Dudley Council, will take up the role of Strategic Director for Regeneration and Environment at Brent Council later this summer.

Formally starting in his new role from August, Alan is taking over from Amar Dave who is retiring.
Alan will be responsible for areas including regeneration, planning, property, parks, highways, parking, supporting businesses, driving economic growth and community protection.

He brings a wealth of experience to the job, having served as a Strategic Director for Place at Dudley Council in the West Midlands, before his promotion to Deputy Chief Executive there in 2018. Before that he served as Director for Built Environment at Sefton Council in Merseyside.

“Brent has so much going for it and I’m thrilled to be joining the council to play a leading role in helping to build upon those successes,” says Alan
.
“Good quality housing led regeneration can improve neighbourhoods – making them cleaner greener and safer – while also providing the secure home and base people need to transform people’s lives for the better.

“I am passionate about working with local communities to ensure that the benefits of regeneration are shared within the community. I’m looking forward to getting stuck in and doing my bit to help build a better Brent.”

Cllr Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council, said:

“Alan’s track record speaks for itself and we are delighted to bring someone of his experience and expertise on board to help drive the borough forward into the 2020s.

“I’d also like to thank Amar Dave who has served Brent with the utmost professionalism and dedication over the past four years and wish him every happiness in his retirement.”

Planning Officer explains next steps in Sudbury Town Station Car Park planning process

There have been raised eyebrows over the decision to defer the Sudbury Town Station Car Park planning application last night after a 4-3 majority voted against against it.

This exchange may help explain (perhaps):

Dear Mr Lorber,

I write in response to your e-mail to Carolyn Downs within which you have questioned the deferral of the Sudbury Town Car Park application.

Members voted against the recommendation to grant planning consent and were minded to refuse planning permission due to impacts associated with the mix of housing (lack of Affordable Rent accommodation and family sized home), loss of station car parking and the impact on the surrounding streets.  Where members are minded to grant or refuse planning permission contrary to the recommendation, officers will often recommend that the application is deferred so that a report may be presented to the Planning Committee setting out the policy basis for their decision.  This is undertaken to ensure that any divergence from policy and the associated impacts of this have been clearly set out.  It strengthens the decision and is vital when defending the decision should the applicant choose to appeal or in the instance that a legal challenge is mounted (a Judicial Review).

The views of the relevant members were clear and a report clearly setting out the policy basis for these matters will be presented to the next Planning Committee meeting.  There was some discussion between members about applicants revising schemes to address concerns raised by members.  In some instances applicants do choose to make changes to schemes to address the concerns raised by members but whilst the Council must accept changes to the scheme that do not result in the need for further consultation, amendments will not be requested by officers.

Development Management Manager

Planning and Regeneration

Thank you for your email. I am aware of the arrangement.

My concern is that none of that was explained during the web screening.

A lay person watching would be confused at seeking the application being Refused after a 2 hour discussion only to find that there was then a 2nd vote to defer it.

They will be even more surprised (shocked) that when brought back with some minor cosmetic changes the Refusal decision may then be reversed and the plans approved.

I hope that if the applicants do make changes they resubmit so that a further consultation takes place which is subject to a site visit where the concerns raised will be easier to highlight and explain.

Regards

Paul Lorber

Winning hearts and minds on St Raph's

Two groups are active on social media with differing views on the current consultation taking place over the future of St Raphael's Estate.  Brent Council has put forward two possibilities - refurbishment with infill or demolition with the new blocks financed by private development on the same site.  South Kilburn has come into the equation both as a positive exemplar and a negative one.

From St Raphael's Estate Community

www.architectsforsocialhousing.co.uk

From St Raphael's Voice

https://www.brent.gov.uk/your-community/st-raphaels-estate/

Comments are welcome but please focus on the issues not the people involved.

Is there a case to defer the South Kilburn application at Planning Committee application after reports muddle?

I have been having a frustrating time tonight trying to write about the major South Kilburn development, worth millions of pounds, that is coming up at Planning Committee tomorrow.

First of all the Council website had no agenda for tomorrow's meeting (there was one earlier in the week):

After I tweeted Cllr Denselow, Chair of the Planning Committee, it was reinstated.  Then a document on which I had been working, including details of the vital viability assessment for the scheme, became unavailable: (It should be HERE)

 I had screengrabbed a couple of pieces from  the report before it disappeared. This extract was significant because it appears to justify a 'poor doors' policy in the private block that under the revised scheme will now have some social housing. It comes from the same Strutt & Parker Report that I quoted in my piece on South Kilburn gentrification. LINK

This extract gives the values attached to the private development:

I don't now have the report to refer to but Type eg 1B2P refers to the number of bedrooms and people i.e. 1 Bedroom 2 persons etc. GDV perhaps Gross Development Value of that type of property. Then presumably the average price per property and the average sale value per square foot.

Referring back to the now published agenda I found that the Supplementary Report for this development (18/4920) was not actually on the agenda. Instead it had the Supplementary Report for 18/4919 attached:

When I eventually found the relevant Supplementary Report I noticed this:

Basically the Major Adverse [Impact on Daylight] figures had been copied from Moderate Adverse. After correction the impact was much worse in George House, Swift House and Carlton House than first stated but officers were still able to say that a major adverse impact on a quarter of the rooms was 'not so significant that it would outweigh the benefits of the proposals.'

There were other corrections and clarifications in the Supplementary Report for 18/4920 that was uploaded very late to  an agenda which is supposed to be available a week before the meeting.

I have suggested to Cllr Denselow  that these problems mean the public are not able to scrutinise the application properly (and probably councillors too) so the application should be deferred.

Brent Council announces dates for South Kilburn regeneration ballot

Brent Council has now published this Press Release on the South Kilburn ballot. The PR machine is notching up a gear:

Dates for an upcoming residents' ballot in South Kilburn have been announced, with the community set to confirm if it continues to support its regeneration.

Residents who are eligible to vote will receive a voting pack in the post from Electoral Reform Services, the independent body who are managing the ballot, by Friday 20 September and can cast their vote straight away by post, online or telephone.

The voting period will last for three weeks, with all votes having to be received by 5pm on Monday 14 October. The result will be shared with residents by post by Monday 21 October.

The award-wining regeneration is already halfway towards creating 1,400 brand new council homes, helping to address the major housing shortage in the borough. The plans will also improve the neighbourhood as a whole, with new community facilities including a health centre, parks and open spaces.

This week the landlord offer, which explains what eligible residents stand to gain from the regeneration plans, is being published.

Council tenants, and those in temporary accommodation, will be offered a brand new high quality home in South Kilburn, or elsewhere if they prefer, that is the same size or bigger than their current property. They will also receive £6,400 as a home loss payment plus all moving expenses paid for.

Resident leaseholders will receive market value for their property plus a 10% home loss payment and all moving fees and expenses paid.

Councillor Shama Tatler, Brent Council's Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Property & Planning, said:

More than 600 families have already benefitted from a new high quality, suitably sized home in South Kilburn. The South Kilburn masterplan, which was developed alongside the community, is the best way of creating a safe, diverse neighbourhood for all generations, making sure that 1,400 more local families get the modern, comfortable homes they deserve.

The ballot will be the ninth of its kind in the capital since Mayor Sadiq Khan introduced new rules giving residents the final say on major regeneration projects.

The regeneration programme in South Kilburn has won numerous awards including RESI Development of the Year for 2018 and Best Design at the 2018 National Housing Awards.

Recently the Carlton & Granville development, which is part of the regeneration programme, won two prizes at the New London Awards for architecture - celebrating the best new buildings in the capital.

Residents can get dedicated advice as a leaseholder, council tenant or household in temporary accommodation by emailing ersk@brent.gov.uk or coming along to an upcoming drop in session which will take place Craik Court Community Room, Craik Court, Carlton Vale on:

• Tuesday 3 September, 5-7pm
• Thursday 12 September, 11am-1pm
• Saturday 21 September, 11am-1pm
• Wednesday 25 September, 5-7pm
• Tuesday 1 October, 5-7pm
• Wednesday 9 October, 5-7pm.

Residents can also get free, independent advice from Communities First by ringing freephone 0300 365 7150 or by emailing southkilburn@communitiesfirst.uk.com

A list of current and planned housing developments in Brent

People often tell me that they have great difficulty in keeping up with all the regeneration and housing developments in Brent which include Wembley Park, Wembley Central, South Kilburn, Alperton, Northfields and smaller sites.

This document submitted to the Queensbury appeal includes an Appendix listing current and future developments. Click bottom right square for a full-sized copy.

Campaigners call for a 'NO' vote in South Kilburn regeneration ballot

There was a mixed reception at a consultation on South Kilburn regeneration for the leaflet below. Residents generally welcomed it but some leading councillors were not at all pleased with campaigners.

Residents of 17 blocks  will have a Yes/No vote on whether the regeneration should go ahead.

Vote NO in the South Kilburn Ballot!

Fix these problems first!

·      Many of the new flats have had major problems, with flammable cladding, leaking roofs, mould and much more.

·      Rents will be higher in new flats and rise more quickly than Council rents.

·      Most people won’t remain Council tenants but be transferred to a Housing Association (HA), which already have higher rents. There have been many complaints about how unresponsive HAs are.

·       Service charges have gone up considerably for HA tenants.

·      Not all new flats are as large as current flats.

·      Temporary tenants (some of whom have been temporary for as long as 10 years) in South Kilburn, but they are being offered worse tenancy agreements than those who are already secure tenants.

The ballot asks if regeneration should continue, without addressing any of these problems. Balloting 17 blocks at the same time means residents whose blocks only need refurbishing are pitched against residents whose blocks should be demolished and replaced by better housing.

Both the local (Kilburn) Labour Party and the borough-wide Brent Labour Party have called on the Council to suspend regeneration while these issues are sorted out.

Vote NO and call on Brent Council to come back with proposals which really address our housing problems.

This leaflet is produced by local residents and activists. For information, contact theotherwiseclub@gmail.com

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South Kilburn to get Brent's first regeneration ballot

Guest post by South Kilburn resident John Healy reflecting on the latest developments in the South Kilburn Saga

It all began in 1999 when the residents of South Kilburn made a bid for NDC (New Deal for Communities) money, which they got in 2001.  Some of the money was used to start building new homes, with Thames Court* being the first one to be developed, followed by a Regeneration Masterplan of the whole estate in 2004.  

The residents worked in partnership alongside the Council to draw up the terms of the regeneration, including an offer of one new home to every secure council tenant required to move out of their current home when it was due to be demolished. That is still the case with the publication last Friday (5/7/19) of our landlord's (Brent Council) latest offer that can be found in the papers going to Cabinet on July 15th LINK There will be a Needs Assessment a year before any move to confirm any medical needs, change in circumstance or other preferences:

Before any more regeneration can go ahead in South Kilburn, the council has to hold a ballot for the residents of the seventeen remaining tower blocks. There is only one question on the ballot paper:

 Are you in favour of the proposal to continue with the regeneration of South Kilburn? 

YES / NO

 If the council get a majority (50.001%) of yes votes, out of all the total votes cast, then all the blocks will be demolished. The council have not said yet what will happen if they were to lose the ballot.

Over 1,000 residents  will be allowed to vote, including secure tenants & leaseholders and one possible contentious group of residents,namely the 235 residents living in temporary accommodation across the South Kilburn estate.  My understanding is that they will need to vote 'Yes' in the hope that the council will eventually give them permanent housing although this may take several years.  However, if they do vote 'yes', this will ensure that the council win the ballot although  it appears the council are confident of winning even without their votes.

* Thames Court was supposed to be the most environmentally built structure in England at that time, 2003.  I cannot remember the actual costs but it came in several millions over budget and the 'green materials' took the blame. The result was that council decided that there were not going to to be any more 'green buildings' in South Kilburn because of the extra costs incurred.

Call for halt to regeneration of council estates in Brent until concern over sub-standard housing addressed

Chase House, South Kilburn

Concern over the quality of housing in regeneration areas, including South Kilburn (above) first raised on Wembley Matters LINK has continued with reports of sub-standard work in Argo House,

Now Hampstead and Kilburn Constituency Labour Party has called for a halt to future regeneration in South Kilburn and across the borough, pending a Brent Council consultation with affected communities. In a motion passed unanimously last night they said that the halt should last until Brent Council and affected communities are satisfied that the housing being built is of sufficient standard and that the housing associations and property developers are taking their responsibilties to the community seriously.

The motion cited sub-standard work both externally and internally and neglect and failure to act by both developers and housing associations.

Proposals for a ballot of  residents of blocks affected by the next round of regeneration  on South Kilburn are  expected to be announced soon. Meanwhile residents on St Raphaels Estate continue to be concerned over demolition and regeneration proposals there with many preferring a programme of refurbishment.

St Raph's Redevelopment Latest - Meeting tonight at Oakington Manor Primary School

Brent Council is holding a meeting this evening (6pm February 21st) at Oakington Manor Primary School* for St Raphael's Estate residents and stakeholders based on the estate  to discuss the appointment of an Independent Advisor.

The Independent Advisor according to the Council will:

• Set up and run a Tenants/Residents/Stakeholders Board. The Board will have a formal structure and make sure that tenants and the community are formally engaged in the process to arrive at a preferred option for the Estate and are at the forefront of decision making.
• Provide independent advice to all those who live withing St Raphael's regardless of tenure.
• Carry out engagement and consultation, which will include enabling all tenants, residents and stakeholders to contribute to the decision-making process related to the future proposals in accordance with best practice and to disseminate information and encourage attendance at events and activities which are taking place.

The Council has invited 5 organisations to bid:

1. Communities First Foundation
2. Newman Francis Ltd
3. PPCR Associates Limited
4. Priority Estates Project
5. Source Partnership

Residents and stakeholders will decide who will be recruited as their Independent Advisor at two meetings - tonight's and on March 5th.  Tonight's workshop will concentrate on questions to ask the organisations above, discuss what they want the the Independent Advisors to present at the next meeting, and whether they wish to attend the meeting with the Independent Advisors.

The meeting on arch 5th at 6.30pm at Oakington Manor School will enable residents and stakeholders to have the final say on who their Independent Advisor will be. They will be able to  hear presentations from the applicants, ask questions and  vote for the Advisor of their choice.

As the St Raphael's Twitter account states above there is also a meeting planned for February 27th at Brent Civic Centre 6.30pm-8.30pm. This will be a public meeting for a wider discussion about the future of the estate which includes the key issue of refurbishment or demolition and new build, with the latter financed in part by private housing.

*Oakington Manor Primary School, Oakington Manor Drive, Wembley HA9 6NF

Development plans for South Kilburn's Neville House and Carlton House

Ariel view of the present site

The Plans

Brent Council has published (Reference 18/4920) its planning application for Neville House, Carlton House and several neighbouring buildings on the South Kilburn Estate LINK:

Demolition of all existing buildings and erection of a part six, seven, eight, nine, ten and twelve storey building arranged around a courtyard (Western Building) providing 148 units (23 x studios, 53 x 1bed, 50 x 2 bed and 22 x 3bed) including a concierge and residential communal room at ground floor and a part seven, eight, nine and ten storey L shaped building (Eastern Building) providing 116 residential units (60 x 1bed, 38 x 2bed, 16 x 3bed and 2 x 4bed).  Construction of a basement under the Western Building with a car lift and access from Albert Road.  The provision of a shared surface with the extension of Neville Road from Denmark Road to Albert Road, with associated car parking, cycle provision, bin stores, landscaping and ancillary works. | 1-8 INC Neville House & Neville House Garages, Neville Road, 1-64 INC Winterleys and Seahorse Day Nursery, Albert Road, 113-128 Carlton House and Carlton House Hall, Canterbury Terrace London, NW6

As can be seen from  the images above the proposed new development is much denser and with the highest block 10 storeys, much taller. The amount of green space is reduced.

There are only two comments so far on the Planning Portal. One is classified as neutral and is concerned about the amount of car parking that will be available for 264 units. The over makes a number of points:

I strongly object to the current planning applications on the grounds that we will lose, privacy, light and outlook, especially those flats in Swift House that are south facing, looking over Albert Road.

I am the one of these Swift House flats and when I purchased the flat, the Brent council plans to replace Winterley, Neville and Carlton houses were to build 6 storey buildings max, which now have duplicated. This has a negative impact on the neighbourhood as well as on my property.

The main appeal when we purchased our flat was its light, privacy and outlook, which will be heavily diminished with the current planning.

Additionally, I would like to raise concerns about losing existing green spaces, amenity spaces and trees in the areas. The garden land around Neville House and Winterleys House will be replaced with 8 to 12 storey buildings that will make the area packed witch concrete. Also, the huge number of new dwellings will make the zone highly dense and increase the traffic narrow roads in the area.

With this in mind, I would like to object to these plans and ask to reduce the height of the buildings proposed in this plan, to reduce the impact on light and privacy on the surrounding buildings, and to avoid converting an area that now is airy and green into a packed, overbuilt and overcrowded area.

On social housing the Planning Statement claims:

The proposed development provides a 47 % quantum of affordable housing (measured by habitable room), with 100% social rent provision. 


The affordable housing units will be located in the Eastern Building. The provision of 116 socially rented properties represents an uplift of 36 socially rented properties on site compared with the existing provision of 80 social rented properties.
 

The Carlton House site is identified as having an indicative capacity for 66 dwellings, of which 29 for market and 37 affordable; and the Neville / Winterleys site as having capacity for 137 units, of which 61 would be market housing and 76 affordable units.

The Brent Council Forward Plan 15 indicates that the Cabinet on March 11th will discuss a ballot on South Kilburn Estate but gives no further information. The London Mayor has adopted a policy requiring ballots of estate residents affected by regeneration and one is to be held on the St Raphaels proposals.  This followed pressure from within and outside the Labour Party, including that of Geen Assembly Member Sian Berry. Release of Mayoral funding at £100k for each affordable unit and £28k for shared equity is dependent on ballots being held.

Residents will be concerned about the loss of community facilities involved in the proposals. The Planning Statement comments:

The proposed development will result in the loss of Carlton Hall, a 173 m2 community centre and a small community use (106 m2) on the ground floor of Winterley’s House that is currently used by a small nursery. Carlton Hall was previously used by the South Kilburn Trust, however this organisation has now moved to the new Carlton and Granville Centre within the wider South Kilburn estate. Carlton Hall will temporarily be used as a Doctor’s surgery until the 
 neighbouring Peel site is redeveloped where a new Health Centre Hub is being provided for the GP surgery in the longer term. The proposed Western Building will incorporate a small communal space on the ground floor that will be for the building’s residents use. 

It is considered that there is sufficient community use provision in the vicinity of the site which includes Carlton and Granville Nursey, and Carlton Vale Infant School. Within and close to the wider South Kilburn estate there is a range of community facilities. This includes the St Augustine’s Sports Hall (with community access), The Tabot Centre After School Club, The Xhamia e Shqiptareve Community and Cultural Centre and The Vale Community Centre. There are also a range of local sports facilities nearby including Moberly Sports Centre. 


Drop in on St Raphael's redevelopment proposal this Saturday - Public Meeting February 27th

Brent Housing are to hold two more meetings with residents of St Raphael's Estate. One of the recent meetings was overflowing.  A drop in is being held in a marquee in a car park on the estate on Saturday  rather than in the Children's Centre of the nearby school. Let's hope the gales do not sweep it away. An additional public meeting will be held at the Civic Centre on February 27th.

We want to listen to residents’ ideas, encourage you to get involved and address any concerns. We have arranged four informal drop-in sessions on the estate. The drop-in sessions will be a chance for you to have one-to-one or small group discussions with senior council officers and councillors.

The drop-ins will take place on the following dates:

• Saturday 9 February from 12pm–2pm: Open car park space (Marquee) next to the Living Room, 65-80 Besant Way, NW10 0TY

Public Meeting

We would also like to continue to encourage public debate and have arranged another public meeting:

Wednesday 27 February from 6.30pm-8pm: Conference Hall (3rd Floor) Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 0FJ

Stonebridge councillors have  put out a video on Twitter assuring residents that they are interested in hearing their views. See the Twitter post with video here LINK

tps://twitter.com/Brent_Housing/status/1093536872561868806

Some issues for the St Raphael's consultation meeting on December 8th

Brent Council will be consulting with residents on the St Raphael's Estate next Friday on their plans to redevelop the estate. St Raphael's will be the first estate where residents will be balloted on the changes.

Concerns have been expressed on social media over possibilities of gentrification and social cleansing with private housing being built on the estate to help pay for the redevelopment. There are also worries over the potential for the loss of green space, not just in the area surrounding the estate which stretches to the River Brent, but within the estate itself.  People are aware of what happened in West Hendon with private developments next to the Welsh Harp reservoir and social housing close to the poor air quality main road. St Raphael's borders on the heavily polluted North Circular.

Another issue is the need to ensure the future of the premises of various community groups, nurseries, children's centre and the Sufra Foodbank and Edible Garden if new blocks are to be built requiring additional land.

St Raphael's Estate is on a flood plain for the River Brent. There are artificial hillocks between the river and the estate which protects it to some extent but locals speak of underground springs in the area. They suggest that this could limit any high rise developments. There was flooding in the area in the 1970s.

With climate change underway the flood risk is clearly something to be considered. This is the longer term risk from the Environment Agency:

'Brent is stealing our Bridge Park legacy...it is part of our Black Heritage'

A legal battle is on between Brent Council and the Afro-Caribbean community of Stonebridge, Harlesden and Monks Park over the future of Bridge Park.  The centre is part of a Council redevelopment project that includes the long-empty Unisys building.  It is much more than a legal battle - it is a battle for the beating heart of the local community.

Wembley Matters has covered the dodgy nature of some of Brent Council's partners in their development scheme and this was reinforced by trenchant criticism of the Council by the late Dan Filson. LINK  LINK

Young visionaries in what was then a bus depot

Bridge Park was set up by young black people in the 80s at a time of the uprisings. It is part of black heritage in the borough that came from the grassroots, just as the Stonebridge Adventure Playground, closed by the council, also had its roots in the community and amongst the young.

A community group, Bridge Park Community Council, set up to save the centre from the council plans have put forward their own alternative which is rooted in the community and continues the original ethos of Bridge Park when the Harlesden People's Community Council organised to purchase the old bus depot:

BPCC successfully appealed to the Land Registry over the sale of the land and it was blocked  but now the council is fighting back through legal action.

A fundraising campaign is now underway to take the council on: LINK
and there is a petition of to stop the sale and return control and development of the Bridge Park site to the community HERE


BPCC's short-term plan is:

(a) To show the “London Borough of Brent” that we have an interest in the land, and to therefore suspend the sale of the Land and property referred to as “Bridge Park Community Leisure Centre”.
(b) To secure the Community interest in the Land and property by means of legal, public and political action.
(c) To develop a self-sustaining Centre of Excellence providing educational, Technology, social, well-being and commercial facilities.
(d) To encourage Brent Council and all parties to engage with BPCC in peaceful timely negotiation (ADR), Mediation or Arbitration as opposed to costly litigation with a view of coming to an agreement in relation to the Community’s control and interest in the said Land and Property.

  EMPOWERING OUR COMMUNITY

                   WE NEED YOU...!!!!


THANK YOU FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT TO SAVE BRIDGE PARK LAND & COMPLEX

*FIRSTLY - BRIDGE PARK IS NOT SOLD.

Bridge Park Community Council as successor to HPCC established Bridge Park Complex Steering Group, to protect the interest, control and development of the Bridge Park Land and Properties for the community. 

In the 1980s, HPCC, founded by a group of young 16-20 year olds, who followed their vision and desire to serve the community, and to ensure that the young men and women growing up in Stonebridge, N.W London had facilities and opportunities to empower them to succeed.  They bought the land supported by sourced grant funding of £1.8m. 

They raised a further £3m+ along backing to design and build the current Bridge Park Complex seen today. The original vision was for the creation of educational, commercial business units, sports and multi-purpose facilities.  The land is estimated to be worth over £50 million on the open market.

In order for HPCC to obtain the funds, Brent Council acted as custodians ONLY: with no right to sell, transfer or dispose of the land, acquired by the community for the community. The Bridge Park site had a protective covenant on the land.  Brent Council officers removed the covenant prior to February 2014.  The community were not informed. [Wembley Matters here is the LINK to the report to the Brent Executive in June 2013 which states: The Bridge Park site had a covenant on it that sports and community uses should be protected and around half of any value of any development would have to paid to the LB Bromley (as successor body to the GLC). However officers have successfully re moved this covenant.]

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Experienced Lawyers, (DWFM Beckman, London) have been engaged, and advice has been taken from a Senior Counsel, specialising in this area of Law and Chancery.

*Brent Council entered into the Conditional Land Sale Agreement with General Mediterranean Holding (GMH) as guarantor, for the sale of the Bridge Park Complex in June 2017.  A strict condition of the sale is that the land must be free of all interests. Brent Council plan to allow development worth over £800 million on the land, but aim to sell off the Land and 42x Business Units, 2x restaurants, Bar, 2x Gyms, full size In-door Basketball and Badmintons Courts, plus Multi-faith centre and Nursery buildings all this for less than £13 million Brent  will not fully disclose the lower price. THIS DID NOT GO TO TENDER !!!

HPCC in association with successor's BPCC Steering Group and S.C. Trust (HPCC) Ltd the land.

An application to the Land Registry to restrict Brent Council, to stop the Sale of Bridge Park was made in August 2017, through our lawyers.

Brent Council have been given an extension of 30 days to file their documents to challenge this restriction.

***** WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT *****

Our community needs a lot more than a Gym & Swimming Pool.

We will build an iconic Centre of Excellence  for The Community by The Community. Addressing our Educational, Social and Commercial needs. And most of all it will be self funded and sustained.

A land mark building upon which we can take pride in.

Come and get involved - Sign the petition against Brent Council's plans

WE NEED  our community building to be kept in the hands of the COMMUNITY in PERPETUITY!!

Help us to raise the much needed funds for the legal challenge to halt the sale of Bridge Park.

WE NEED TO FIRST RAISE THE INITIAL £10,000 OF THE £25,000 FOR OUR LEGAL DEPOSIT, TO FIGHT OUR CASE IN THE HIGH COURT, LONDON.

Email:    info@bridgeparkcomplex.com
Details of BPCC's vision can be seen on their website HERE  

The officers' report to the Brent Executive in June 2013 stated:

Our officers have carried out a new Equality Analysis. There are a number of important conclusions. The first is that Bridge Park has been important in serving an important part of Brent’s Afro-Caribbean community. Removing the sports centre would strongly negatively impact on this group. The area has one of the strongest increase in under 5’s in the whole of Brent. Over 88,000 of the 447,000 people within a three mile catchment of the centre are under 16 years of age (20% compared with a borough average of 16%). The starter business units that would not be replaced do have a high proportion of people from Afro-caribbean background.