The Mayor of London has approved plans by Genesis Housing Association (GHA) and Queens Park Rangers to build new homes on unused land around the Harlesden area.

Brent & Kilburn Times: Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has approved Oaklands (Picture: Stefan Rousseau/PA Images)Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has approved Oaklands (Picture: Stefan Rousseau/PA Images) (Image: PA Wire/Press Association Images)

Saddiq Khan gave the green light to the £175million mixed use ‘Oaklands’ development - the first major scheme to get the go-ahead in the Old Oak regeneration area.

The Championship football club will team up with the housing group to build 605 homes, of which 40 per cent will affordable, next close to land earmarked for the multi-billion regeneration project.

The plans were approved by The Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC), last month but needed to be signed off by Mr Khan before building work could start.

Neil Hadden, GHA’s chief executive, said: “We are delighted that the redevelopment has been approved.

Brent & Kilburn Times: Artist sketch of the Old Oak development (Pic: Old Oak Park)Artist sketch of the Old Oak development (Pic: Old Oak Park) (Image: Archant)

“We will now be able to provide hundreds more affordable homes for Londoners on a once derelict site.

“Partnerships such as the one we have with QPR enable us to invest, not only in building new homes, but in developing new communities.”

Tony Fernandes, co-chairman of QPR, added: “We are committed to bringing forward other development sites in Old Oak as soon as possible to create the homes that London desperately needs.

“All this will help us achieve our ultimate goal, which is to secure the future of the club through the construction of a new stadium with sporting, community and educational facilities.”

Under the 30-year long plans for the Old Oak Common project, a new city will be built which includes 7,000 homes, 50 new building, the creation of more than 8,000 jobs and a new train station where High Speed 2 meets Crossrail, which will see super-fast links in and out of the area.

In June Mr Khan announced he was to review the plans for the new city to ensure it will include enough affordable housing.

He will also scrutinise terms that allows OPDC to take ownership from government of public land surrounding the proposed new station.