Get West London
Tuesday August 14, 2018
By Frederica Miller
Harlesden needs more than 2,000 new homes by 2037 to meet housing demands
This is what Harlesden's town square could look like (Image: Brent Council)
Harlesden's a neighbourhood which has been hard hit by the London housing crisis.
Its
population exploded between 2001 and 2011, growing by 50% to reach
18,900 and according to the London Plan's housing target it needs 2,249
extra homes between 2015 and 2037 to accommodate residents' needs.
Brent is the local authority with the fourth highest number of residents in temporary accommodation in the UK , according to council figures.
The
Harlesden Neighbourhood Plan proposes to bring 600 new homes and 200
new jobs to the area by 2033 by redeveloping several major sites while
"protecting the individuality and diversity of the neighbourhood in the
face of large-scale new developments". Harlesden is home to London's
second largest Jamaican population and is a melting pot of Irish,
Brazilian, Polish, west African and Somali communities among many more.
The
plan is currently up for public consultation with residents able to
comment on the proposals - the final stage with be a local referendum in
which residents will vote to adopt or reject the plans at the end of
2018. If residents vote to adopt the plan then key sites in Harlesden could be massively redeveloped.
What will be built?
The
Harlesden Neighbourhood Plan has earmarked four key sites for
redevelopment with the aim of improving housing, transport and community
facilities in the area.
It promises to deliver 600 new homes and 200 new jobs to Harlesden by 2033.
The following sites have been earmarked for redevelopment.
1. Harlesden Plaza
The Harlesden Plaza site off Tavistock Road is currently made up of a
Tesco supermarket, neighbouring shops and a car park as well as some
High Street properties including the Methodist Church.
The plan proposes to transform the plaza into a new town square which will include a supermarket, new homes and a public space.
This is how Harlesden town square could be laid out (Image: Brent Council)
The plan does not outline how many new homes could be built in the
space but does state that any new buildings in the square should be no
more than four storeys high.
None of the buildings in the new town square should be taller than four storeys (Image: Brent Council)
An artist's impression of the new square shows it could be used as a spot for new homes and new shops.
2. Salvation Army Hall and Manor Park Works, Manor Park Road
New homes could be built behind the Salvation Army building in Manor Park Road (Image: Google)
This site, set back behind Manor Park Road and Park Parade, is
currently made up of industrial buildings including Manor Park Works.
The Harlesden Plan sets out to build new homes and an open community space there.
Any redevelopment of the Tavistock Road/Manor Park Road car park should maintain a minimum of 60 spaces for the town centre.
The plan does not outline how many houses could be built at the site at this early stage.
3. Former Willesden Ambulance Station
The former Willesden Ambulance Station in Harlesden Road could be torn down to make way for new homes.
Precise details of how the site may be developed are yet to be released.
4. Willesden Junction station
Willesden Junction Station Square is another site which could be built on if the Harlesden Neighbourhood Plan goes ahead.
According
to the plan "tall buildings will be acceptable at Willesden Junction
station where it can be demonstrated that they will enhance local
character".
The plan states a Willesden Junction redevelopment should include offices and homes as well as improvements to the station.
Huge changes could be made to the area around Willesden Junction station in the next 15 years (Image: Brent Council)
The following improvements are set out for Willesden Junction station:
- Good pedestrian access from the north, especially from Station Road
- Improvements to the access from Harrow Road will also be required, including safety improvements
- A direct and attractive pedestrian route to Harlesden from the new bridge over the West Coast Main Line
- A cycle route and cycle parking facilities should also be provided
The council's cabinet member for regeneration, highways and planning
Councillor Shama Tatler said: "It's great to see the community of
Harlesden come together and put forward a vision of how they would like
Harlesden to develop over the next 15 years.
"Residents
can comment on the Harlesden Neighbourhood Plan through the
consultation before a local referendum later in the year."
You can view the Harlesden Neighbourhood Plan in more detail here .