Quintain object to a Wembley Park planning application!

Now

Proposed (height increased)

Now

Proposed (Danes Court is towards bottom right)

It is not often that Quintain the Wembley Park developer objects to a development in Wembley Park, but they have in the case of No 1 Olympic where they object to the planning application by another developer.

Permission had already been granted for the office block to be converted to housing but the developer came back with additional proposals to add extra storeys to the building and build a new 15 storey block at the back, opposite Danes Court on North End Road.

Quintain state:

Whilst we acknowledge the applicants have tried to address some of the inadequacies in the original proposal, we maintain our objection to the application as submitted on 4 March 2019. Our objection concluded that the application should be refused planning permission on the grounds that the poor quality design, appearance and materials used within the development cause the increased scale, bulk and massing of the building to have a significant and detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the area, Olympic Way and this primary gateway into Wembley Park. The application is therefore contrary to Policy D1 of the new London Plan (2018), WEM2 and WEM7 of the Wembley Area Action Plan (2015) and DMP1 of the Brent Development Management Policies (2016). The revisions submitted by the applicant do not in our considered opinion change these conclusions.

In addition to the above, we also confirm that the proposed introduction of retail and office floorspace on the ground floor is not deliverable by the applicant. As noted by the applicant, this would require the removal of the pedestrian ramps which are owned and maintained by Quintain. Quintain have no proposals to remove these ramps which are well used and provide the only direct step free access between Bridge Road to Olympic Way. Therefore, any benefits relied upon by the applicant resulting from these changes should be disregarded.

Danes Court, North End Road

The new building is certainly in stark contrast to Danes Court which it will over-shadow! A Danes Court resident writes:

I am very concerned that the recent amendment to the plans application still includes the proposal for a 15 storey block of flats at the rear of the building. That proposed block plus the 3,5 and 7 storey roof top increased height of the existing building will have a significant and detrimental effect on the light reaching my flat. I have already seen the light diminish significantly due to the new buildings in that area, this proposal will have a huge effect in restricting/blocking much of the sunshine and light reaching my balcony area of my flat and bedroom. The 15 storey block will not only affect the light reaching my flat but impinge on our privacy. It will be facing my daughter's bedroom and balcony area. Our privacy will be much reduced.

The privacy on one side of the flat has disappeared with the recent Anthology building. This proposal will be the last straw and any privacy and quality of natural light will have gone for good. The loss of natural light and privacy are stressful and distressing and affects our quality of life. This proposal will make things for us even worse. Also, this building will add to light pollution from yet more artificial lighting from huge new buildings in the area, plus, noise, litter, traffic and crime. I know there is little chance of anyone listening to us but please consider the effect this proposal has on residents like me who have lived in Danes Court. for nearly 25 years.

Two objections, one from a multi-million property company and another from a long-term resident, but both are discounted by the Planning Officers' report which recommends approval of the scheme. The officers seek various changes including a more 'natural' cladding to the blocks and have ensured that the block will not threaten plans to redevelop the next building along, No 3 Olympic Way, which is currently offices. The College of North West London building on the opposite side of Olympic Way is likely to be replaced with a higher block in the near future and readers will already have seen the plans for the Fulton Quarter in what is current the Wembley Stadium Retail Park.

Readers have noticed that conversion of No 1 Olympic Way from offices to residential is already underway, despite this application to modify the plans. The application will be heard by Brent Planning Committee on Wednesday.  The public can attend or a live stream is available from the Council website.



 

Officers recommend acceptance of planning application for Wembley Stadium Retail Park, McDonalds & Troubadour Theatre site

L to R Retail stores, McDonalds, Troubadour Theatre (Fountain Studios)

Replacement development (the light brown building bottom left is the College of North West London which is also due to be redeveloped)

Officers are recommending acceptance of  Quintain's plans for the redevelopment of the Olympic Way/Wembley Park Drive/Fulton Road site currently occupied by Wembley Stadium Retail Park, McDonalds and the Troubadour Theatre.

Approximately 995 housing units will be built on the site and there will be 6,600 square metres of floor space at ground level for a variety of uses including retail, office and leisure.

The tallest block will be 25 storeys high with 8 storey blocks facing Wembley Park Drive. As often the case the amount of 'affordable' housing is less than recommended as is the amount for larger families but deemed acceptable by the officers' report on the basis of viability studies.

The 'affordable' housing would be:

For 1 Bed and 2 Bed Units – Affordable Rents (inclusive of service charges) no more than 80% of local open market rent, and capped at Local Housing Allowance rates, and to be agreed in writing by the Council (such agreement to not unreasonably be withheld) 

For 3 Bed and 4 Bed Units – Social Rent Target Rents (exclusive of service charges) determined through the national rent regime and set annually by the Homes and Communities Agency or any successor body, and to be agreed in writing by the Council (such agreement to not unreasonably be withheld)

The development includes podium green space (located above the retail - see the centre blocks), some at ground level between the retail units and accessible roof space on all excpet the tallest block. Officers point to the proximity of Chalkhill and King Edward VII parks for children's use. Give the large number of residents they suggest re-design of the crossing point to the shops on the other side of Wembley park Drive from the development. This site, without any development, has already seen a number of accidents to pedestrians when trying to cross the road.

There is no guarantee that any of the existing facilities, including the Troubadour Theatre,  in the development would transfer to this new 'Fulton Quarter' although there is a suggestion that  a cultural facility might be provided. The lion heads that were on the Lucullus Brent Empire Exhibition restaurant, on this site,  will be mounted in the new Fulton Square and there will be interpretive panels about the BEE and Wembley Park Studios. Regular Wembley Matters contributor Philip Grant will be pleased with this news. LINK

Twenty seven trees will be removed from the site but officers argue that this is compensated for by the planting of 36 trees at street level and 100 at podium level.

BREAKING: Labour win in Brent Central, Brent North and Hampstead & Kilburn with reduced vote

BRENT CENTRAL (2017 party result in brackets)

David Breschia (Con)     10, 909  (10,211)
Dawn Butler (Lab)          31,779   (38,208)
William Relton (Green)    1,600   (802)
Deborah Unger (LibDem) 4,844   (2,519)
Total ballot papers issued 49,358
Turnout 58.74%

BRENT NORTH
Noel Coonan (Ind)                 169    (-)
Barry Gardiner (Lab)        26,911   (35,496)
Elcena Jeffers (Ind)                101   (239)
Paul Lorber (LibDem)        4,065    (1614)
Suzie O'Brien (Brexit)           951    (-)
Anjana Patel (Con)            18,832    (18,435)
Simon Rebbitt (Green)           850    (660)
Total ballot papers issued   52,080
Turnout 62.16%

HAMPSTEAD & KILBURN
Johnny Luk (Con)                13,892  (18,904)
James Pointon (Brexit)             684   (-)
Matt Sanders (LibDem)       13,121   (4,100)
Tulip Siddiq (Lab)                28,080   (34,464)
David Stansell (Green)           1,608   (742)
Turnout 66.5%

In his victory speech Barry Gardiner thanled the voters but said that the General Election result indicated that the country was in peril. He said both the Labour Party and the Government now had the duty to bring the divided country together again.

Wembley Winter Wonderland Sunday December 22nd

Cllr James Allie resigns becoming the 4th Labour resignation in recent weeks

From Brent Council website:

Councillor James Allie, who represented the Alperton ward in the London Borough of Brent, has resigned today – Monday 9 December 2019.

The former Councillor notified Carolyn Downs, Returning Officer and Chief Executive of Brent Council, of his decision to stand down with immediate effect this morning.

His resignation creates a vacancy for the office of Councillor for the Alperton ward. In order to trigger a by-election, two local government electors in Brent must write to the Chief Executive’s Office requesting that an election take place. On receipt of the requests to fill this vacancy, the Returning Officer will set a date for an election to be held within 35 days.

All requests or letters regarding these vacancies must be sent to: Chief Executive’s Office, Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 0FJ or by email to: Carolyn.Downs@brent.gov.uk or Chief.Executive@brent.gov.uk.

LATE NEWS - Two requests have been received by the Brent Returning Officer so the by-election will be held on January 23rd alongside those for Barnhill and Wembley Central.

Personal note:  It would be handy if any other Labour councillor comtemplating resigning could do so as soon as possible - one cold December General Election and three bitterly cold January by-elections are quite enough. A freezing February one would be just too much! Thank you.

Cllr James Allie 'utilised' woman's estate meant for South African Charity

Cllr James Allie (Alperton ward) has been ordered to vacate a house and repay additional monies from an estate that he used for his own purposes reports the Daily Mail LINK.

Allie, a solicitor was appointed executor of Ruth Ballin's  £1.56m will which named the Canon Collins Education and Legal Assistance Trust that works in South Africa as benefactor. Canon Collins set up the International  Legal and Defence Fund at the time of the South African Treason Trials in 1956 to provide legal assistance for those facing trail, including Nelson Mandela, and to support their families.

Reporting the Court hearing the Daily Mail states:

..Mr Allie, who at the time worked for legal firm Spence and Horne, hid the news of the bequest from the charity for more than two years, the court was told.

Instead, the councillor is said to have ‘utilised’ her assets to buy a £580,000 property in Brent, where he has been living since it was purchased in 2017.

Cllr Allie was a Liberal Democrat councillor from 2005-2012, standing a the Lib Dem candidiate for Brent North in 2010.

In 2012 he defected to the Labour Party ostensibly over the Lib Dem's role in the Coalition Government LINK

Always a controversial figure a complaint was made against Cllr Allie in 2016 when he was spotted reading the Catholic Herald during a crucial Council debate on savage budget cuts. LINK

Cllr Allie and Cllr Butt in happier times

Former Labour Council James Powney was one of several people who drew attention to the irony of Cllr Allie being appointed as Chair of Brent Council Standards Committee later in 2016 by Council Leader Muhammed Butt. LINK
LINK 

VIDEO: Brent Central election candidates battle it out at hustings

These days there are relatively few opportunities for the public to attend a hustings where they can listen to parliamentary candidates, question them and perhaps indulge in the old fashion political art of heckling. In the Brent constituencies there are more opportunities in the mainly Camden Hampstead and Kilburn seat, a few in Brent Central and often none in Brent North.

So it was welcome that Brent Trades Council, recognising this democratic deficit, organised a hustings for Brent Central voters. Unfortunately the Conservative candidate did not turn up. Candidates who originally agreed to attend: David Brescia (Conservative), Dawn Butler (Labour Party),William Relton(Green Party), Deborah Unger (Lib Dem),Chair:Mary Adossides,Brent Trades Council

Below you can find videos of the hustings featuring all the candidates introductions and responses to questions. Many thanks to Peter Murry for filming the meeting and making the video widely available.

Brent Trades Council hustings of Brent Central Parliamentary candidates in the General Election. Saturday 7th December 2019 Introduction by Chair: Mary Adossides, Brent Trades Council Opening remarks Dawn Butler (Labour Party) William Relton (Green Party) Deborah Unger (Lib Dem) url:https://youtu.be/1l6ZbnArhUY

Brent Trades Council hustings of Brent Central Parliamentary candidates in the General Election. Saturday 7th December 2019 Introduction by Chair: Mary Adossides, Brent Trades Council Questions: Climate change and pollution Dawn Butler (Labour Party) William Relton (Green Party) url:https://youtu.be/rkYTc9-3Wjw

Brent Trades Council hustings of Brent Central Parliamentary candidates in the General Election. Saturday 7th December 2019 Introduction by Chair: Mary Adossides, Brent Trades Council Questions: Austerity, Poverty, Arms exports,crime Dawn Butler (Labour Party) William Relton (Green Party) Deborah Unger (Lib Dem) url:https://youtu.be/tcpe1hD_O5M

Brent Trades Council hustings of Brent Central Parliamentary candidates in the General Election. Saturday 7th December 2019 Introduction by Chair: Mary Adossides, Brent Trades Council Questions: racism, refugees, migration, economics, education Dawn Butler (Labour Party) William Relton (Green Party) Deborah Unger (Lib Dem) url: https://youtu.be/8Uh1NYkyr-w

Brent Trades Council hustings of Brent Central Parliamentary candidates in the General Election. Saturday 7th December 2019 Introduction by Chair: Mary Adossides, Brent Trades Council Questions: NHS, closing remarks Dawn Butler (Labour Party) William Relton (Green Party) Deborah Unger (Lib Dem) url:https://youtu.be/RAPLNN1TPLs

Brent Young Green challenges Brent Council on recycling - radical steps needed on climate emergency

In a practical demonstration of the benefits of votes for 16 and 17 year olds, Brent Young Green, Macsen Brown, did better than the official opposition in challenging Cllr Krupa Sheth over Brent Council's recycling record: