Plans for a new six-storey block of 20 flats in Wembley have drawn more than 20 objections from residents who argue the development would strain local services and blemish the conservation area. The proposal by RDB Properties Ltd at 127-129 Wembley Hill Road, within the Wembley High Street Conservation Area, will be decided by Brent Council's planning department.
Proposed Development Details
The scheme involves demolishing the existing three-storey building with ten flats and constructing a six-storey, car-free block with six three-bed, six two-bed, five one-bed, and three studio apartments. The developer states the current site is “substandard” and requires “significant upgrading,” claiming the project would provide “a meaningful contribution” to Brent’s housing supply.
No Affordable Housing
Despite Brent Council’s strategic target of 50 per cent affordable housing, the development would deliver none. A viability assessment submitted by the developer concluded that, based on current costs and values, the scheme “cannot viably support” any affordable units.
Resident Objections
Local residents have raised concerns about pressure on infrastructure, parking, and the building’s height. One resident wrote: “This will cause enormous pressure on existing infrastructure and facilities available for an already overcrowded area – GPs, schools, parking on roads, effect of parking on surrounding roads, which already struggle with parking due to cycle allocated spaces.” Another added: “The new build design, if completed, will be a blemish to the look and feel of the street, detracting from its character and community. The people here live in houses, not little boxes in the air as the council proposes.”
Developer Response
The developer has addressed privacy concerns by stating no windows will face directly north, with windows oriented toward the public realm and dense planting along the northern edge to reduce overlooking. A daylight and sunlight assessment claims all surrounding properties will still meet required standards and not breach overshadowing criteria. The developer describes the scheme as “a context-led, design-led scheme that responds sensitively to the site’s characteristics and the established character of Wembley Hill Road.”
Next Steps
Brent Council’s planning department will now determine whether to approve the application. The outcome will hinge on balancing housing delivery against conservation area protections and resident concerns.
