Road closures etc for the 3 Bank Holiday matches at Wembley Stadium

 

1 Morland Gardens – Councillor Benea’s reply to my open letter – why are the Council dithering over the heritage Victorian villa?

 Guest post by Philip Grant in a personal capacity

 

The Italianate-style belvedere tower of “Altamira”, beyond the community garden.
(Photo by Margaret Pratt, May 2023)

 

Earlier this month, Martin published an open letter, “Brent’s Morland Gardens development, and the future of the heritage Victorian villa”, which I had sent to two key Cabinet members, ahead of a decision which is due to be made on 16 June. On 21 May, I received this reply from Councillor Teo Benea, the Lead Member for Regeneration:

 

‘Dear Mr Grant,

 

Thank you for your open letter to myself and Cllr Donnelly-Jackson dated 8 May 2025.

 

I have spoken to officers regarding 1 Morland Gardens and a decision on the site use options will be proposed for Cabinet’s consideration at the meeting on Monday 16 June 2025. No decision has been made on retaining the locally listed Altamira building and Cabinet will only be asked to consider the proposed site use(s) for Morland Gardens as part of developing a complementary vision for the Hillside Corridor.

 

I will ensure that officers consider your letter and content as part of ongoing work to progress the Cabinet approved site use option.

 

Thank you.

Kind regards,

Teo Benea
Cllr for Sudbury ward
Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning & Property’

 

It was in January 2020 that Brent’s Cabinet approved a recommendation for the redevelopment of their 1 Morland Gardens site, to provide updated facilities for the Brent Start college (which had been there since 1995) and Council homes. Planning Committee approved the plans (by five votes to two) later that year, including the demolition of the locally-listed Victorian villa at the heart of the college. But the scheme was so flawed, and so many mistakes were made in trying to implement it, that the planning consent expired at the end of October 2023, without construction having begun.

 

I was told in a letter from Brent’s Director of Property and Assets in November 2023, under the heading “An urgent rethink on original proposals”, that:

 

‘We are always reviewing and updating schemes across the board as part of our usual governance arrangements, and we are doing that with even more rigour given the underlying economic conditions. Following the expiration of the planning permission, the Council is reviewing its options for the Morland Gardens site, including the Altamira building.’

 

Despite the supposed urgency, nothing further was heard, until I sent an open letter to Brent’s Chief Executive at the end of March 2024, which I shared in a post - Is Brent Council “busy doing nothing”? In response, Brent’s Head of Capital Delivery said: ‘the Council is continuing to review its options and proposals for the Morland Gardens site. As soon as the Council has completed the review, it will place the item for decision onto the Council’s Forward Plan and seek Cabinet’s consideration of the same.’

 

This is a Council-owned site, which has been vacant since early 2022 (apart from six months when it was occupied by Live-in Guardians). At least they were providing some security for the building, but ever since they left, nearly two and a half years ago, Brent Council has been paying a security firm to guard the empty building. 

 

Notice on the security fence around 1 Morland Gardens. (Photo by Margaret Pratt, May 2023)

 

 

As part of their long-running review, Brent have been given plenty of evidence of the high historic and architectural value of the Victorian villa, and how retaining this locally-listed heritage asset as part of their redevelopment plans is both a practical proposition and in line with the Council’s adopted planning policy and historic environment strategy. How can Officers not yet recommend to Cabinet that this landmark building, part of the original estate that gave Stonebridge Park its name 150 years ago, should be retained? I expressed that view in my “open email” reply to the Lead Member for Regeneration:

 

‘Dear Councillor Benea,

 

Thank you for your email, and for updating me on what will be put to Cabinet on 16 June in respect of Morland Gardens.

 

I have to say that I am surprised that 'Cabinet will only be asked to consider the proposed site use(s) for Morland Gardens.'

 

Council Officers started to consider proposals for the future of the former Brent Start college site at 1 Morland Gardens in November 2023. I understood then that they expected to put their recommendations to Cabinet by around this time in 2024.

 

By November 2024, they had already decided to recommend that the site should be used for new Council homes and community facilities, and they put this out for consultation then, as part of the Bridge Park and Hillside Corridor exercise:

 

 

By March this year, as a result of that consultation, the proposal had been refined to be 'new Council homes and youth facilities'. I find it hard to believe that all Brent's Officers can submit to Cabinet, another three months further on, and more than eighteen months after they started their review, is a recommendation to confirm that the proposed site use should be new Council homes and youth facilities!

 

Given all of the information and views put forward since November 2023, including as part of the December 2024 consultation exercise, where there was clear support from community members for the heritage Victorian villa at 1 Morland Gardens to be retained, I would hope that Council Officers could also recommend that the future redevelopment plans for this Council-owned site should include retaining the locally-listed building.

 

A decision on such a recommendation, by Cabinet on 16 June, would give Officers clearer guidance to progress their Hillside Corridor plans as they move forward. I hope that you, as Cabinet Member for Regeneration, will ask Officers to include that in their Report. Thank you.

 

I am copying this email to Kim Wright, Chief Executive, who could also ask the relevant Officers to do that, in order to help avoid further unnecessary delay over this site. Best wishes,

 

Philip Grant.’

 

If you agree that the Victorian villa, “Altamira”, should be retained, there is still time (until 26 May 2025) to sign the Willesden Local History Society petition calling on Brent Council and its Cabinet to do that. You can add your signature, if you have not already done that, HERE. Thank you!

Philip Grant.

Planning Inspectorate to hear Gaudiya Mission's appeal against Brent Council's refusal of Cranhurt Road development

 

 27 Cranhurst Road

The Gaudiya Mission has submitted an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate following Brent Council's refusal of planning permission for significant changes to its premises at 27 Cranhurst Road, Willesden Green.

Representations must be received by June 24th 2025.

Brent Council outline the process below:

The appeal relates to an application at 27 Cranhurst Road, London, NW2 4LJ

The application proposes, Partial demolition of existing kitchen and temple room and proposed basement extension with rear lightwell and railing, single-storey side-to-rear extension, rear dormer extension, alteration to side fenestration, single-storey outbuilding in rear garden and installation of 2x front rooflights, refuse storage to front and cycle storage to rear to mixed use place of worship and dwelling

 

GAUDIYA MISSION has recently made an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. The appeal is against the Council's decision to refuse the application. The Council's reasons for refusal are:

 

1. The accommodation proposed at loft floor level does not align with the space standards as outlined under policy D6 of the London Plan (2021) and consequently would not provide an adequate standard of accommodation and internal amenity for future occupants. As a result, the proposal is therefore contrary to policy DMP1 of Brent's Local Plan (2019-41) and policy D6 of the London Plan (2021).

 

2. The proposal by not offering sufficient natural daylight to the basement of the premises is deemed to offer a poor level of internal amenity for future occupiers, contrary to policies DMP1 & BD1 of the Brent Local Plan (2019-2041) and the guidance contained within Basement Supplementary Planning Document (2017).

 

3. The proposal by reason of the insufficient provision of information regarding soft landscaping and planting fails to demonstrate how that the scheme will achieve a satisfactory urban greening factor on the site and provide sustainable urban drainage. The proposal would therefore be contrary to policy policies BD1, BGI1 & BGI2 of Brent's Local Plan (2019-2041) and policies G5 and G6 of the London Plan (2021).

.

The Planning Inspectorate will now consider this proposal under the appeal process of written representations. The Planning Inspector appointed to determine the appeal will consider any written comments received. Oral comments, audio and videotapes will not be acceptable.

 

If you wish to make comments, or modify/withdraw your previous representation, you can do so online at https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/ using planning appeal reference no APP/T5150/W/25/3365907

 

If you do not have access to the internet, you can send your comments to:

 

The Planning Inspectorate

Temple Quay House

2 The Square

Bristol

BS1 6PN

 

Please ensure that you quote the planning appeal reference no APP/T5150/W/25/3365907

 

All representations must be received by 24/06/2025. Any representations submitted after the deadline will not usually be considered and will be returned. The Planning Inspectorate does not acknowledge representations. All representations must quote the appeal reference.

 

Please note that any representations you submit to the Planning Inspectorate will be copied to the appellant and this local planning authority and will be considered by the Inspector when determining the appeal.

 

The appeal documents are available at https://pa.brent.gov.uk. Please search by application number.

 

You can get a copy of one of the Planning Inspectorate’s “Guide to taking part in planning appeals” booklet free of charge from GOV.UK at

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/taking-part-in-a-planning-listed-building-or-enforcement-appeal - or from us.

 

When made, the decision will be published online at https: acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk

 

The full appeal document is on the Brent Planning portal LINK the conclusion is below:

 

The appeal site is within a sustainable and accessible location and has provided an historic community mission in the form of a Mandir since the mid 1950’s onwards when the property was donated to the Mission from a local patron.

 

As such the Mandir and his service to the community it serves and wider community as an open facility as formed part of Cranhurst Road for decades.

 

The proposed works which include a modest increase in residential space and the modest ground floor extensions with a basement will provide a more user-friendly experience for visitors to meet modern needs with better internal layouts and arrangements.

 

The Mission needs to modernise facilities to serve its existing needs and visitors and this cannot be readily done within the existing building floor area. An alternative would be to relocate the mission to another area but that would upend the historic roots of the Mandir and Mission from its local connection and force users to travel to another location and also with significant costs to move.

 

The proposal seeks to balance the needs of meeting the needs of the Mandir in 2024 rather than when it was first created but through modest extensions and modest costs that would enable it to maintain its historic presence in the existing setting whilst still operating under controlled planning rules that govern opening times, days and fire regulations that govern the occupancy and use of the building.

 

The development will continue to safeguard the amenities of neighbouring properties in terms of their own amenities, daylight and privacy.

 

The site is within walking distance to bus and tube services and does not rely on private car access for visitors to it.

 

The Council appreciates the community value the Mandir has and its established history in the area and should balance the significant community benefits of the proposal and ensuring a viable and user-friendly Mandir is maintained in its current location against any minor harms it has identified.

 

The proposal will accordance with the London Plan 2021, the Brent Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework 2024.

 

The Inspector is requested to allow this appeal and grant planning permission subject to conditions.

'Betrayed' staff mount massive picket at The Village School in Kingsbury

The Village School in Kingsbury this moarning saw one of the biggest Brent picket lines for many a year.

The staff of the school that was academised against their wishes, have recently experienced what academisation means when high-handed management took unilateral action without any consultation - despite the fact that consultation over conditions of service was one of the undertakings made at the time.

 

 

One member of staff remarked about the betrayal of trust and said, 'Jenny warned us about this when we were fighting academisation - and now it has happened.'

The imposed changes will result in pay cuts for staff needing hospital appointments, ante-natal appointments and carer' leave. Attempts to negotiate failed so the NEU called a strike of staff for today and the school was shut to pupils.

If the Trust that runs the school does not shift its position there will be two days of strikes, Wednesday and Thursday, after half-term. 

The mood of the strikers was good natured, positive and very, very determined and the sense of community palpable.

 

East Lane gas works delay: Cadent say that the gas main they are trying to locate is 'not where it was supposed to be'

 

It appears that a farce has been running in East Lane and it wasn't put on by the threatened East Lane Theatre! Instead it was a farce produced by Cadent Gas and not really for the benefit of local people.

Reflecting local concerns Cllr Paul Lorber asked about the lack of progress in the works taking place on East Lane that have result in traffic congestion and much frustration.

Responding to Lorber's member's enquiry a Brent officer said:

With regards to your enquiry regarding the ongoing gas works on East Lane. I have spoken to Cadent Gas regarding these works. They have found that the gas main they are trying to locate is not where it was supposed to be. They have been trying to locate it without much success. 

 

The plan is to now backfill and reinstate East Lane and re-programme the works during the school holidays to reduce the congestion. I have requested that the lights are removed as soon as possible as it is causing congestion and the works are not going to be progressed at this location.

Perhaps gas main diviners or  detectorists may be able to help.

 

Some Home Truths About the South Kilburn Regeneration for Brent Council and Developers to Ponder

 

Pete Firmin, South Kilburn resident and chair of a residents' and tenants' association, spoke at Kilburn Connects online meeting tonight about the poor quality of new housing on the estate, the dire amount of social housing and the experience of living though a regeneration that will not be completed until 2041.

Met Police and Brent Council hold public meeting for residents after recent serious incidents. Kingsbury Mandir Friday 6pm-8pm

 

 

Brent Council and the Metropolitan Police would like to invite you to a public meeting to discuss the recent serious incidents in Kingsbury. This will be an opportunity for the community to share their views and concerns with Brent Council and the Police. We will share information on how we are working to reduce violence.

 

NEU members at The Village special school in Kingsbury to strike tomorrow after paid leave cut

 

The Village School, Kingsbury

 

From Brent National Education Union

 

NEU members at The Village School, Brent- part of the Compass Learning Partnership academy trust- walk out tomorrow, angry that they have lost pay protections for pregnant and disabled staff among others

 

Teachers and support staff at the school have reached out to the Trustees to try to resolve and issue that began last year when a school policy was changed without consultation and resulted in pay cuts for staff needing hospital appointments, ante-natal appointments and carers’ leave. Trustees have acted against their own processes by not negotiating with unions and staff have been left out of pocket.

 

Over 100 members of the NEU will be on strike tomorrow and the school will be closed to all pupils. Pupils at the school have a range of complex needs, disabilities and autism.

 

Jenny Cooper of the NEU national executive, who also teachers at the school, has stated:

 

We have reached out to the trust multiple times to try to resolve this issue- the last thing we wanted was to strike- but they are not engaging with us. The Trust has four executives on salaries over £100000 but refuse to pay our frontline staff when they need to attend vital appointments. The school cannot operate without us; they will need to negotiate sooner or later

.