Impression of the Cecil Avenue blocks, High Road, Wembley
Brent Council’s press releases are notable for what
they leave out as much as what they include. The latest heralding new homes on
the Cecil Road, Wembley site (formerly Copland School) and Ujima House on the
other side of the road (See PR below) leaves out vital information pursued by
Philip Grant in several guest posts on Wembley Matters. LINK LINK
Brent Council received planning permission for this development more than two years ago (February 2021). On the latest information only 37 of the 250 homes at Cecil Avenue will be for London Affordable Rent (LAR), and the 54 LAR homes promised for the Ujima House site (which still only has outline planning permission) are not expected to be delivered until 2026.
The Wembley Housing Zone scheme is Shama Tatler's responsibility - she talks it up in the press release. Cllr Tatler and Muhammed Butt must bear the blame for the details and delay over the provision of these home.
Reacting to the Council press release on Twitter this morning Cllr Anton Georgiou (Lib Dem Alperton) asked:
Will these be Council homes for Council tenants? Genuinely affordable family homes? Or more of the same? We need answers and clarity, not just headline figures.
The Brent Council Press Release
Deal signed to deliver more than 300 new homes in Wembley
More much-needed housing will soon be a reality following an agreement to build 304 new homes in Wembley.
A deal was signed this week between Brent Council and Wates to deliver 250 homes on land east of Cecil Avenue, which had previously been the site of Copland School. The plan is for a high-quality, mixed-tenure courtyard development of five to nine storeys with one-bed, two-bed, three-bed and four-bed apartments and maisonettes. The new development will also house commercial units and community floorspace at street level.
Opposite this site at Ujima House, another 54 homes will be built, along with workspace units, including a café at street level.
A total of 152 homes will be made available for private sale on the Cecil Avenue site. The other 152 properties on both Cecil Avenue and Ujima House will be a mixture of affordable homes for council tenants and people on middle incomes.
Councillor Shama Tatler, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning, and Growth, said:
“This is fantastic news for residents of this up-and-coming area. The vision is to revitalise the eastern end of the High Road of the town centre, linking the established Wembley Central to the new Wembley Park neighbourhood emerging around the stadium.”
Designated and partly funded by the Mayor of London, the Wembley Housing Zone aims to create new homes and jobs, new leisure, retail and workspaces, public realm improvements and increased accessibility for pedestrians, cyclists and road users.
Nick Williams, Regional Managing Director at Wates, said: “Our guiding principle is that everyone deserves a great place to live, and these modern new homes will be warm, comfortable and safe to live in. Not only that but we will be working with the local community to deliver these mixed-tenure homes. This means employing the services of local businesses and people along the way to help regenerate the area and inspire a new community.”
The new development agreement represents another opportunity for Brent Council and Wates to collaborate. The two organisations are currently working together to create 99 new council homes at Church End and have recently successfully delivered 149 homes at Knowles House and Anansi House.