Do you have views on the provision of student accommodation in Wembley/Brent? Contribute to the London Mayor's consultation.

 

 At a recent Planning Committee meeting where an application for new student accommodation in Wembley Park was made, existing residents spoke against on the grounds that it created would imbalance and undermine community cohesion because students were short-term residents not committed to the area. There were also concerns about anti-social behaviour. Countering this officers argued that students contributed to the local financial and cultural economy.

Now the London Mayor is undertaking a consultation on provision of student accommodation to which residents might want to conribute. Details below:

The Mayor of London is consulting on new London Plan Guidance (LPG) relating to student housing, otherwise known as purpose-built student accommodation or PBSA.

The guidance supports London Plan policy H15 to best meet student housing needs as part of a wider approach to housing delivery and regeneration. It aims to unlock PBSA delivery and also address imbalances to help achieve a more mixed and inclusive London.

This event is a Q&A session for stakeholders to bring any queries they have about the document or the consultation. It assumes that attendees have watched the two minute introductory video or read the draft document, both available on our consultation site.

Questions can be submitted in advance by email to studenthousingLPG@london.gov.uk or you are welcome to just turn up on the day and ask them and listen to our responses to other people's questions.

[Images courtesy of Unite and Affordable Accommodation for Students Ltd]

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the event free? Yes.

Who is this event for? The event is open to all and is suitable for interest groups, public campaign groups, developers, landowners, agents and Londoners to ask questions and find out more.

How will the session take place and how can I join? The session will take place online. Once you have registered via Eventbrite, you will be emailed a link to join the event 24 hours before the event takes place.

Will I be able to ask questions during the event? Yes the whole event is structured around Q&As.

Do I have to submit questions in advance? You are welcome to send questions through in advance by email to studenthousingLPG@london.gov.uk which will help us prepare, but you can also just turn up and ask them and we will do our best to answer them on the spot.

Is this a repeat of the event on the 3rd November? Yes, there is no need to attend both events.

What if I have accessibility requirements? Please let us know when booking your ticket on Eventbrite. Please let us know as soon as possible. We will endeavour to meet any requests made within two weeks of the event, however these cannot be guaranteed.

Where can I find out more and share my views? To watch the introductory video, read the guidance and share your views, visit the consultation page. Consultation on the LPG closes on 11 January 2024

How can I find out more about this event? Please contact studenthousinglpg@london.gov.uk if you have any further questions about the event.

We hope you can join us. RESERVE PLACE HERE

 

The consultation, including the survey (below) will be open until 11th January 2024.

We have 2 open-to-all Q&A events in October and November, and further engagement events are also planned with specific stakeholder groups, notably the cross-sectoral Mayor’s Academic Forum and boroughs. More information on the public events can be found on the 'events' section on this page.

All feedback will be reviewed and a consultation summary document will be published alongside the final guidance.

Register to be notified of planning policy consultations(External link) or sign up for GLA Planning News(External link).

You can email the team on: studenthousinglpg@london.gov.uk(External link)(External link).

 

SURVEY

 

 

Staff and students left in the lurch after Wembley Skills Training Centre goes into liquidation

 

Skills Centre 328 Wembley High Road

A watchful Wembley Central resident got in touch with Wembley Matters earlier today saying:

The Skills Centre (housed in what used to be adoption/fostering service on the HIgh Road opposite Elizabeth House) is no longer in operation. There is a sign on the front door to the effect that no education studies are to be conducted in the near future.  This has been operating for about 3 years, mostly 16-18 year olds, mostly children from recently settled families (very nice young people from Iraq, Afghanistan, India ) wishing to take GCSE's again or trying to achieve a passing grade, or access to BTEC in English and Maths.

Someone mentioned to me that they believe their funding has been withdrawn or they lost it?

She is not wrong. The parent company Skills Training UK has gone into liquidation.

 According to FE Weekly LINK  staff were old a week ago that they would only be paid for 7 days work in August. 

The article was written before the appointment of a liquidator and FE Weekly reported:

 

While they wait for the appointment of a liquidator, employees can’t make a claim for unpaid wages, notice pay or redundancy pay. Meanwhile, staff are also worried learners could miss out on getting their qualifications this August as they’re not at work to liaise with awarding organisations.

 

Stunned staff, some in tears, told FE Week they had been “left drowning” and out of the loop at a time when living costs are spiralling and after they have worked at the provider for years.

 

“We’re just broken, some of us have children and mortgages, it’s completely crazy. Management went completely quiet on us.”

 

More than 200 staff members will be made redundant if the provider does go under. In an update issued on its website, Skills Training UK said it expects to appoint liquidators on August 2, and that all delivery to all learners has stopped. 

 

Importantly the students, some vulnerable, have been left in the lurch with the report continuing: 

 

There are also concerns that learners will not receive the qualifications they were studying for, as staff have been locked out of their computers and systems and are not able to communicate with the learners or awarding organisations such as Pearson. As emails were shut down, staff could not tell learners that the provider is about to shut its doors.

 

“They’ve abandoned them,” one staff member said. “Some of the learners that I started working with a year ago have behavioural issues, and now they are going to get nothing after a year’s work. And there’s no one to be held accountable.”

 

For the benefit of local businesses who may be owed money, staff and students, this is infromation from the liquidators LINK :

 

Appoinment of Liquidators Matthew Roe and Richard Hawes were appointed join liquidators over the Company on 2 August 2023, accordingly the Company is no longer trading. If you have any queries, please contact STUKCreditors@teneo.com
	Guidance for former Skills Training UK learners Guidance for learners, apprentices and employers undertaking an Apprenticeship or other ESFA-funded training programme (such as study programme or Traineeship) with Skills Training UK Limited, is available on gov.uk at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/termination-of-esfa-funding-agreements
	If you were undertaking a Gateway Qualifications’ qualification, please visit: https://www.gatewayqualifications.org.uk/learners/ If you were undertaking a Pearson qualification, please visit: https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/support-for-you/results-for-students.html If you were undertaking a City and Guilds qualification, please visit: https://www.cityandguilds.com/teaching-learning-assessment-and-results/students-and-parents If you were undertaking a Ascentis qualification, please visit: https://www.ascentis.co.uk/news/arrangements-for-assessing-and-awarding-qualifications
	If you are a London resident and were undertaking an adult course, please direct any enquiries to:  aeb@london.gov.uk
	Apprentices If you were being supported on an Apprenticeship with STUK you will be contacted directly either by your employer who will help you find an alternative supplier, or you may receive contact directly from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). If you are an employer who has been working with STUK, the ESFA are making direct contact with you to identify a new provider to support you.
	GCSE Resit Result Contact Information: Please note results will be released on Thursday 24th August 2023. London Learners: your results should be emailed directly to you by London Brookes College. Exam Office: exams@londonbrookescollege.co.uk

LETTER: Please let me know your views on the impact of redevelopment in Wembley - positives and negatives

 Dear Readers,

I’m an A level student studying Geography.

As a part of my studies, I have undertaken a research project on the Positive and Negative impacts of the redevelopment of Wembley for the local community.

As local residents, your views would give me a very accurate picture of the perspectives of the local residents 

What has changed since the regeneration projects have seen tall tower blocks sprung up?

 

How safe do you feel? Has anything changed in your sense of belonging to the place?

Your input and comments would really mean a lot!

The data will be used only for academic purposes and will be completely anonymous.

I will also share my findings of these data collection for you to gauge an overall picture of the perception of the local residents.

The following are the links to short survey questions.

Many thanks in advance

 

Questionnaire for access to green spaces in Wembley

 Survey-Community engagement and sense of belonging in Wembley after regeneration

 

Wembley High Road Post Office 'temporarily closed' - will it reopen?

 

A reader responded on Twitter:

I was in the post office on the last day it opened. The staff have been made redundant and are very sceptical about a new premises. Apparently this is normally sourced and opened prior to a closure.

Wembley high rise residents object to more tower blocks on their doorstep - Young professionals in revolt!

 Site currently

Proposed

There was a time when there was barely a peep out of anyone about proposals for tower blocks in the development zone around Wembley Stadium, mainly because apart from the residents of North End Road, few people were impacted.

Now the picture is different as the first residents of the high rises find that more buildings are going up in close proximity affecting their access to light and creating a claustrophobic atmosphere. In addition some are also protesting that the plethora of student accommodation is undermining attempts to create a sense of community. 

Both issues are cited in objections to new buildings on Watkin Road which replace low rise light industrial buildings. I am surprised that the residents did not realise this was inevitable given the high value of these sites to developers as height and densification leading to higher profits. Some even comment favourably on Quintain's developments as having more respect regarding light and privacy.

 Density and Height

This is the proposal for at total of 619 student units at 1-4 and 9 Watkin Road

The proposal includes land on both the northern and southern sides of Watkin Road, each containing blocks of purpose built student accommodation.

The southern site would contain a building that is a maximum of 27 storeys in height and is part 18 storeys and part 6 storeys and has a basement, whilst the northern site would contain a building that extends to 21 storeys in height.

The southern site is proposed to deliver 1,490sqm of commercial floorspace within the basement to 2nd floors and 419 student accommodation bed spaces (and ancillary amenity spaces) across the 3rd to 19th floors.
 

The northern site is proposed to deliver 200 student accommodation bed spaces (and ancillary amenity spaces)

Obviously with lower standards than residential accommodation more students can be fitted into the space.

The large majority of of the 54 objections to the development come from 581 North End Road but there are also objections from residents of the Helix, St Andrew's Court and Foster Apartments. The only support comes from UCFB (University Campus of Football Business) and there is one neutral comment from Great Portland Street. 

This is  representative of the the objections from 581 North End Road:

581 North End Road I, like my neighbours, strongly object to the proposed plan. I find it unacceptable that the initial plan has changed so significantly over time despite how devastating its effects on the other residents in the area are. The initial plan had many issues, too. But, the additions over time have made it even worse. Please find my reasons below.

1. Complete blockage of all daylight to my home

My home, placed on Floor 12, only gets a sliver of daylight every day from one angle, with much of my home constantly in the dark. The planned building would completely block the only daylight I get every day while working from home and resuming my daily life. The serious health implications of little to no light every day include Seasonal Affective Disorder, depression, vitamin d deficiency (which leads to bone and back pain, fatigue, frequent illness and more), and sleep disorders. The financial implications would see me having to switch on my lights almost all the time, creating an unmanageable increase in my bills. It would also mean that without the sunlight naturally warming up my flat, my flat would be colder and thus I would need to keep my heating on a lot more often.

2. Excessive number of Student Accommodation buildings in the area causing immense anti-social behaviour and a complete lack of community.

When I decided to make Wembley my permanent home and invest my hard-earned money here, I was painted a picture of a blossoming community trying to move away from hotels, student accommodations and anti-community initiatives. As it stands, our building is suffocated by the number of student accommodations (e.g. Grand Felda House, Canvas, Pavilion Court, iQ Student Accommodation, Unite Students, Host the Helix, etc.). These temporary young residents do not treat our neighbourhood as a residential area. They litter, smoke, consume drugs outdoors, throw alcohol bottles and eggs from their windows onto our communal areas and the streets below, and more. Our parcels and post get stolen all the time. There are random, stolen supermarket trolleys in front of the student accommodation buildings almost all the time, too. We are barely feeling safe and like we have neighbours we can start to build a community with as it is. We do not need more temporary residents, especially students, wreaking havoc and making Wembley Park insufferable. This has and will continue to increase our maintenance fees, too, as we have to pay to get our communal areas cleaned after they throw eggs and glass bottles.

3. Complete blockage of my flat's view

One of the main reasons I bought this specific property as opposed to other new build developments was the view of the city it promised. Currently, from my flat's two windows facing where this new plan would be built, I can see the Shard, the London Eye and more. This not only increases the quality of my life, but adds quantifiable value to my property. If this planned building was to go ahead, my flat would be boxed in without any daylight and any view. All I would be able to stare at would be a brick wall and the private lives of the residents in the new building, both of which are unacceptable. My flat's value would understandably plummet, as I, too, don't and wouldn't want to live somewhere with no view but a brick wall, no daylight, no sense of community and lots of anti-social behaviour.

4. Complete invasion of privacy

As my windows are only on one side and the proposed building's unacceptably close to ours, if I wanted to have any chance at getting fresh air or some sliver of daylight, I would need to accept the fact that complete strangers will be able to watch my every move and invade my privacy. This would mean I have to change the way I act, dress up, where I can change my clothes, how I store valuables, and more, in order to keep myself safe as a female occupant. It would also make it very easy for strangers to take photographs of me or my neighbours, our homes, etc. This is obviously not defensible.

5. We have not been formally informed about this proposal at all

We, the residents of 581 North End Road, have not been sent any formal notifications or offered opportunities to object to a plan that is happening a stone's throw away from us. We found out by sheer luck. I believe that this is not legally sound.

6. Brent Council should prioritise safety and a sense of community over money for money's sake.

We pay our council taxes, have put all of our savings into investing in the future of Wembley and show commitment to building a community in an area that lacks it. Yet, Brent consistently accepting more and more student accommodation buildings and quick rental business models like Quintain’s shows that the council is more interested in filling its pockets than taking care of its dedicated residents who hope to spend years if not decades of their lives here.

7. I do not believe the proximity of the proposed buildings to ours complies with the legal regulations and privacy recommendations for London.

8. It is difficult enough for any family to consider raising children in the area with so many young students wreaking havoc and making the area dangerous. The proposed plan would make it even less likely for families to ever want to live in or stay in Wembley. This would cause the continued deterioration of the area, the culture it breeds and the community it harbours.

9. The culmination of these issues would make other young professionals, innovators, communities, etc. avoid investing in and enriching the culture of Wembley. This would make Wembley retain its unfortunate reputation as a "student village" that is only visited for a football game or a concert once a year and avoided at all costs otherwise.

View from Empire Court, North End road 0- before and after:

 

 

Tokyngton Avenue/Stonebridge Park Station floods - trapped man rescued from van, 14 people evacuated. Flooding in Kenton too.

Torrential rains had Stonebridge Park locals walking knee deep in water today #Wembley pic.twitter.com/SbRhZUHUs7

— UB1UB2 West London (Southall) (@UB1UB2) August 2, 2023

 

From Brent Council

2 August - 6.30pm update

This afternoon’s extremely heavy rainfall has overwhelmed the existing flood preventive measures in place and unfortunately a number of households on Tokyngton Avenue have been flooded.

The Fire Brigade are currently on site with five fire engines, along with council officers and a team from the Environment Agency.

If your home has been affected and you need somewhere to go, the council has setup a rest centre at Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley Park, HA9 0FJ.

If you are affected and need help please call 020 8937 1234.

Point Place, Tokyngton Avenue, and Argenta Way are closed due to flooding. The 112 and 440 bus routes towards Ealing are being diverted by TfL.

We will post further updates as they become available. HERE

There are suggestions that debris from nearby building sites causing blockages may have contributed to the flooding as well as paved over gardens.

Flooding in Kenton too:

 

Don’t forget our raw sewage overflows in #Kenton pic.twitter.com/PMLWGhTrZB

— Cllr Sunita Hirani 🦋👩🏽‍🔧 (@SunitaHirani1) August 3, 2023

Jamaica Indepedence Day - celebrations and health checks Friday 4th August 3pm-9pm

 

Opening Wembley’s Olympic Games, 75 years ago today – 29th July 1948

 Guest post by local historian Philip Grant

 

 

1. Local club athletes escorting the Olympic Torch through Wembley Park. (Source: Brent Archives)

Today marks the 75^th anniversary of the opening ceremony of the 1948 Summer Olympic Games, which was held at Wembley Stadium, so I thought you might like to get a flavour of that day. The lighting of the Olympic flame was actually the climax of the ceremony, so I will start at the beginning.

 

2.     Opening Ceremony programme. (Source: Brent Archives)

 

The ceremony began at 2.30pm, and all the tickets had been sold, so people began arriving for the event well before it started. Most came along the recently opened Olympic Way.

 

3.     Crowds heading to the stadium for the Opening Ceremony, 29 July 1948. (Source: Brent Archives)

 

The ceremony got underway with the teams from the 59 nations taking part in the Games entering the stadium. Greece, as the originator of the ancient games, led the way, followed by the others in alphabetical order, with Great Britain, as the hosts, bringing up the rear.

 

4.     The Czechoslovakian team parading round the athletics track, followed by Denmark.
(Screenshot from a colour film of the 1948 Olympic Games)

 

Each team was led by a Boy Scout from a Wembley troop, carrying a banner with the nation’s name. Other local scouts were sitting on the grass beside the track, ready to play their part later in the afternoon. 

 

5.     The teams assembled in the centre of the stadium. (Screenshot from a colour film)

 

As the teams reached the back straight, they were guided into position, so that they formed columns behind their name and flag. All 59 national flags were also flying from flagpoles around the top of the stadium, as they would throughout the Games. It was a hot and sunny afternoon, and the temperature in the centre of the stadium was around 35ºc. The first casualty of the Games was the scout holding the banner for Bermuda, who feinted and had to be helped by local St John’s Ambulance Brigade first aiders. Another scout was brought in to take his place.

 

6.     King George VI declares the Games open. (Image from the internet)

 

At 4pm, King George VI, who had taken the salute from the Royal Box as the teams paraded past, declared the fourteenth Olympiad of the modern era open. The Boy Scouts around the track then released 7.000 pigeons from wicker baskets The pigeons, symbolising peace, circled the stadium several times to get their bearings, then flew away to their home roosts.

 

7.     Some of the pigeons flying above the stadium. (Screenshot from a colour film)

 

Anticipation was now rising, as the Olympic torch relay, which had begun at Mount Olympus in Greece 12 days earlier, was nearing the stadium. The torch had arrived at Dover the previous evening, and runners had carried it through the night, along a route designed for it to arrive at the stadium at 4.07pm!

 

 8.     Map of the torch relay route, from a 28 July newspaper. (Source: Brent Archives)

 

Large crowds of local people, and a 21-gun salute (which helped to scare the pigeons away from the stadium!), had greeted the Olympic torch as it was carried up Olympic Way. The relay torch (later given to the Mayor of Wembley, and now in Brent Museum) was used to light the ceremonial torch which took the flame into the stadium.

 

9.     The Olympic torch relay on its final leg up Olympic Way. (Image from the internet)

 

A Cambridge University athlete, John Mark, had the honour of carrying the torch into the stadium. After a steady run around the track, with the 80,000 crowd and several thousand competitors watching him, he ran up a short ramp and lit the Olympic flame.

 

10.  John Mark lighting the Olympic flame at Wembley. (Image from the internet)

 

A massed choir sang the Olympic hymn, and then the flag-bearers from the 59 competing nations gathered round a rostrum, from which Donald Finlay, the Great Britain team captain, took the Olympic oath. On behalf of all the competitors, he swore to take part in the Games ‘in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honour of our teams.^’

 

11.    Donald Finlay taking the Olympic oath at the Opening Ceremony. (Image from the internet)

 

The Opening Ceremony concluded, and the stadium was made ready for the start of the athletics events the following day. 

 

12.  The Starter, getting athletes “set” for a heat of the 100 metres on 30 July.
(Screenshot from a colour film)

 

“Wembley’s 1948 Olympic Games” had begun! I wrote a short piece earlier this month about an illustrated talk with that title I was giving. I will be presenting the talk again at a Brent Libraries “coffee morning” event, at Ealing Road Library on Tuesday 3 October, 11am to 12noon. If you are interested, and are free that day, you will be very welcome to come along. Check the Brent Culture Service Eventbrite site nearer the time, to reserve your place.

Philip Grant.

 

UPDATED: Police appeal for information after Monday's fatal stabbing in King Edward VII Park, Wembley

 From Metropolitan Police

Detectives are appealing for information after a man was fatally attacked in King Edward VII Park, Wembley.

Formal identification is yet to take place but the man has been provisionally named as Milton Hurlington, 42, of north west London.

Police were called at 21:49hrs on Monday, 17 July to reports of a man in his 40s with a stab injury in the Dene, Wembley, following the attack in the nearby park.

Officers, the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance all attended. Despite the efforts of the emergency services, Mr Hurlington died at the scene.

The investigation is being led by detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command and they have appealed for anyone with information to make contact.

A post-mortem examination has now taken place and established cause of death as blood loss following a stab wound to the arm.

Detective Chief Inspector Linda Bradley, leading the investigation, said: “First and foremost, my thoughts are with Milton’s family and friends at what is an incredibly difficult time. Specialist support is being given by my team, and they will continue to receive this as the investigation progresses.

“At present we believe he sustained his injuries in King Edward VII park and then made his way to the Dene, where residents discovered him and called the emergency services.

“I am really keen to hear from anyone who saw or heard anything out of the ordinary in the park and surrounding areas on Monday 17 July between 6pm and 10:45pm to come forward. Please do not hesitate to get in touch, no matter how insignificant you may think your information to be- it could be the key to our investigation.”

Two man and a woman were arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder and have been released on bail to return at a future date.

A crime scene remains in place at the location and surrounding areas including Kind Edward VII park where the initial incident is believed to have taken place.

Anyone with any information that could help the investigation should call police on 101 and give reference 8258/17JUL23.

Anyone with images or footage which may help the police can also be uploaded here.

UPDATE: Some restoration of supply. No water in parts of Wembley HA0 and HA9 - likely cause burst water main in Preston Road

 From Affinity Water

 UPDATE

No water in Wembley

We’re really sorry you haven’t got any water. We’ve been made aware of a burst water main on Preston Road in Wembley which may be causing this. Supply has been restored to most of the area and repairs are still underway to restore full supply

What we’re doing

Our repair team are working hard to fix the burst pipe and get your water back to normal. Once we know how long this will take, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.

We’re really sorry about this and thank you for your patience.

We updated this message at 09:45 and we'll update it again after 11:45

---

What's happened so far

(06:40) Technician on route to investigate.

(07:10) Our repair team are fixing the burst pipe.

(09:30) We’ve restored the supply to most of the area but some customers still may be experiencing low pressure or no water.

 

 

Interruption to your water supply - Wembley - HA0 and HA9

Sunday 25th June 2023

No water in Wembley

We’re really sorry you haven’t got any water. We’ve been made aware of a burst water main on Preston Road in Wembley which may be causing this.

What we’re doing

Our technician is on their way to your area to investigate and get your water flowing again soon.

What you can do

Until we’ve sorted this, please avoid using your:

• Washing machine
• Dishwasher
• Electrical appliances that use water

If you still have water, we recommend you put some in your kettle or fridge for drinking in case your water needs switching off for the repair.

We’re really sorry about this, we’re working to get your water back to normal as soon as possible.

We added this message at 07:02 and we'll update it again after 09:02

 

AFFINITY WEBSITE FOR UPDATES

UPDATE: Man arrested in Harrow at 6pm tonight. (Police appeal for help to trace suspect after double stabbing in Wembley this morning - one fatality)

 

 

 From Brent MPS

 UPDATE

 

 

Detectives investigating a fatal stabbing at a residential address in Wembley are appealing for help from the public to trace a man they wish to speak with.

Keven Antonio Lourenco De Morais, 23, who is from Wembley, is wanted for questioning in relation to the murder.

Anyone who sees De Morais or who knows where he is should dial 999.

Detective Chief Inspector Linda Bradley said: “Keven Antonio Lourenco De Morais is a Brazilian National with links across London.

“If you think you have seen him or know where he is please call police on 999 immediately – it is important that you don’t attempt to approach him.”

Police were called by London Ambulance Service [LAS] at 09:59hrs on Tuesday, 13 June to reports of a stabbing at Neeld Crescent, Wembley.

Officers, LAS and London’s Air Ambulance attended. At the scene  two women, aged 27 and 28, were  found with knife injuries.

The 27-year-old woman died at the scene despite best efforts of emergency services.

The 28-year-old woman was taken by LAS to a north London hospital where her injuries are not life threatening.

A male, and a female, no further details, were arrested on suspicion of murder. They were taken to north London police stations where they remain at this time.

Enquiries are underway to inform the victim’s next of kin. A post mortem examination will be scheduled in due course.

A crime scene remains in place.

A murder investigation has been launched by detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command led by Detective Chief Inspector Linda Bradley.

Anyone who witnessed this incident but has not yet spoken with police should call 101 or Tweet @MetCC quoting 2380/13JUN.

To remain 100% anonymous call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit Crimestoppers-uk.org.