Residents in Dollis Hill are furious the council has given a controversial green light for a redevelopment they say will put local shops out of business.

Despite overwhelming objections and two petitions, Gladstone Parade, in Edgware Road, home to a range of independent businesses, will be redeveloped.

City and Suburban Homes are to demolish all existing buildings and garages and build a five storey building with 38 flats, retail space and a pub on the ground floor.

Residents called for the 1920’s parade to be refurbished not redeveloped at a heated planning meeting on June 28.

Campaigners heckled Brent Council officers and representative of Grade Planning (GP), who put in the application on behalf of the owners.

San Monique hairdressers, which has been going for 50 years, faces closure, as does the General Convenience store which has sat on the corner for 60 years. The Brent Tavern pub will also close.

The highly popular Skippers Fish and Chip shop may be able to stay but there were no answers to queries about business rents.

Residents appealed to planning chiefs to consider the local community with some close to tears after the result was called.

Alison Hopkins, of the Dollis Hill Residents Association, hand delivered 1,000 letters to local residents who knew nothing of the plans. She emailed a further 850 and set up two petitions. She said: “What’s the point of a planning committee which rubber stamps officers’ flawed and erroneous recommendations and ignores all the objections?

“We have been betrayed. We’ve had the heart ripped out of our community. We have so little and they are taking the little that we have away from us.”

Andy Thompson, a resident from Dollis Hill Avenue, said: “This project is completely inappropriate. Children in small flats will be cooped up as there’s no space for families. If they open their bedroom windows they will breathe in heavily polluted air.”

Dollis Hill’s Cllr Liz Dixon added: “Lives will be turned upside down if this goes ahead.”

Ben Rogers, representative of GP, said he was “committed to talking to tenants”. He added: “The site has been neglected and we recognise its important function for local business.”

The committee voted seven to one in favour of the scheme.

Conservative Cllr Michael Maurice, was the lone councillor to vote against.