Jenrick calls in TfL’s 454-home Wembley Park scheme
Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has called in Transport for London and Barratt London’s 454-home Wembley Park plans.
The redevelopment of the 1.6-acre site next to Wembley Park Underground station was approved by Brent Council last November, following planning officers’ recommendation, with the Greater London Authority rubber-stamping that approval in December.
The scheme was refined during the planning process and the maximum height dropped from 26 storeys to 21. It includes 40% affordable housing, with 152 homes provided as London affordable rent and shared ownership.
Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has called in Transport for London and Barratt London’s 454-home Wembley Park plans.
The redevelopment of the 1.6-acre site next to Wembley Park Underground station was approved by Brent Council last November, following planning officers’ recommendation, with the Greater London Authority rubber-stamping that approval in December.
The scheme was refined during the planning process and the maximum height dropped from 26 storeys to 21. It includes 40% affordable housing, with 152 homes provided as London affordable rent and shared ownership.
On 3 December, Conservative MP for Harrow East Bob Blackman wrote to the secretary of state, demanding that the scheme be called in owing to the inappropriate tall buildings and loss of car parking. Blackman is not the MP for the constituency. Labour MP Dawn Butler is responsible for Brent Central.
Jenrick wrote to confirm the call-in in May. The Planning Inspectorate held a meeting in late July and the first public hearing is scheduled for 28 September.
In documents lodged with Brent Council, TfL and Barratt argue that the correspondence does not identify any conflict with national policy or any matters of potential national significance. They say the scheme accords with relevant development plan policies and add: “It is therefore not clear to the applicants on what basis the application has been called in.”
A refusal almost a year after the consent was granted would be a blow to TfL as it seeks to significantly increase its housing development activity to offset reduced grant funding.
The government has demanded the transport body boost its development activity to secure new funding streams and become financially independent, following challenges in lockdown, reduced grants and subsequent government bailouts.
TfL is working to raise its housing target to 13,278 homes on its own land, up from 10,000 under previous plans. It recently revealed that additional funding would support some 46,350 homes in London.
However, the body has suffered setbacks in recent weeks. Last week, build-to-rent giant Grainger decided to abandon plans for 196 homes at Wards Corner in Tottenham. And, at the end of July, Harrow Council unanimously refused plans for 277 affordable homes at Stanmore car park.
The Wembley Park scheme is the second from TfL in partnership with Barratt, following on from the 350-home Blackhorse View in Waltham Forest. Here development is under way and residents have moved into the first 35 homes.
Emma Hatch, senior property development manager at TfL, said: “Our proposals will contribute to the ongoing regeneration of Wembley and deliver 454 quality homes that the capital desperately needs on this highly accessible and sustainable site, along with a new retail opportunity and improvements for the local community.
“With our property partner Barratt London, we will assist the call-in process where we need to and continue to support our scheme, mindful of London’s ongoing housing crisis and our role in tackling that.”
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Image © TateHindle
