Alperton will be unrecognisable in 20 years’ time after planning chiefs gave the green light to almost 3,000 new homes and a host of community facilities.
Property firm St George’s Development received unanimous approval at Wednesday’s planning committee meeting to redevelop the run-down Northfields Industrial Estate.
The 21-acre site, close to the A406 North Circular Road and iconic Ace Café, will be transformed with 2,900 new homes, of which 1,015 will be “affordable”.
Remaining buildings are to be removed and replaced with offices, shops, restaurants, a community space, a health clinic and a children’s nursery.
A new multi-storey workspace building called The Generator is planned south of the River Brent.
Under the plans, the Grand Union Canal-side of the site will be developed first and will extend to Beresford Avenue and the River Brent. The public will have access to Alperton Tube station 10 minutes away and Stonebridge Underground station five minutes away. New bus routes and better-lit pedestrian and cycle routes are also promised.
The scheme was supported by some people living nearby, who praised the good use of open space, positive job opportunities and improved connectivity in the area. But there were also some objections over design, scale and loss of light – the buildings could reach up to 25-storeys.
Mark Wilsmore, founder of the Ace Cafe, said: “On the whole people welcome the development as it regenerates an increasingly abandoned and derelict site. Questions arise about density and height but it’s a fantastic opportunity for all of us to see good come out of the site and watch it flourish.”
The ambitious project has a completion date set for 2038.
Cllr Shama Tatler, Brent Council’s cabinet member for regeneration, highways and planning, said: “This scheme will breathe new life into a worn-out and redundant industrial estate and transform the area between Alperton and Stonebridge while bringing new homes, jobs, and improvements to the public realm and local transport networks.
“It’s a great scheme and one that, through the extensive consultation work the applicant has undertaken, carries the support of residents, businesses, politicians and, now, the council’s planning committee.”
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