Minister approves Tate Hindle’s Wembley flats following inquiry

A 454-home mixed-use development designed by Tate Hindle in north-west London have been approved by a minister after a public inquiry.

Eddie Hughes, a junior minister, approved the Barratt and Transport for London development next to Wembley Park tube station this week

The plans involve five new buildings on a 0.7 hectare site encompassing the car park next to the tube station. Existing structures, including buildings used as train crew accommodation, will be demolished and replaced with five buildings ranging from seven to 21 storeys in height.

The application was approved by Brent council in November 2020, however last summer then housing secretary Robert Jenrick called in the scheme, wanting to know whether the scheme would conserve the historic environment and accord with the council’s local development plan.

A number of residents and a councillor had raised concerns about the density of the scheme, the loss of the existing car park and the impact on privacy and light on nearby residents.

Following a six-day inquiry last year, a planning inspector recommended the plan for approval.

In a decision letter published yesterday Hughes backed the inspector’s findings. The letter listed the re-use of suitable brownfield land for homes; the provision of affordable housing; the economic benefits of supporting and creating jobs, the quality of the scheme’s design and accordance with Brent council’s draft local plan as reasons for approval.

He said this outweighed arguments against, including the shortfall in family and accessible housing, private outdoor space, play space, urban greening and impact on views from the Barn Hill Conservation Area. “He considers that the shortfalls would be minor and/or justified by the site-specific circumstances,” the letter said.

总共将建造454套新住房，其中152套为经济适用房，73套为伦敦经济适用房，79套为中间住房。只有10%的住宅将是三居室或更多，尽管委员会要求25%的家庭住房。然而，检查员说，在市中心边缘的一个高大的方案不适合家庭住宅，而且所有的大单元都是负担得起的，这抵消了大房子数量较少的影响。