Brent Council's planning committee has narrowly approved the demolition of the Old Wembley Hospital and former ambulance station to make way for 108 new homes, despite deep concerns from residents and councillors over affordable housing, parking, and loss of light. The decision was made on August 5, 2026, with the Chair's deciding vote breaking a 4-4 tie.
Scheme details and housing mix
Developer Fairview Estates Limited plans to construct residential buildings ranging from three to six storeys on the site, which has been largely inactive since 2019. The project includes 27 one-bedroom, 54 two-bedroom, and 27 three-bedroom properties, with 99 flats and nine houses. After negotiations, the developer agreed to convert one one-bedroom unit into a three-bedroom home.
However, only 11 homes (just over 10%) will be designated as 'affordable', a figure that the council deems acceptable based on a viability assessment. This falls far short of the council's 50% affordable housing policy target, a point of contention for several committee members.
Parking and congestion worries
The development provides just 13 parking spaces, a marginal increase from the original 12, despite council standards suggesting a maximum of 54. Councillors warned this would lead to overspill parking and exacerbate congestion on surrounding roads, which already experience significant pressure. Cllr Harshadbhai Patel, Vice Chair of the committee, noted the report admitted the parking provision would have "unacceptable impact on highway safety" and the road network.
Residents and local politicians have expressed "deeply concerned" feelings about the scheme's impact on the area, particularly regarding the potential for increased traffic and parking problems in the Wembley neighbourhood.
History of the site
The Old Wembley Hospital operated from 1928 until 2000, when frontline medical services moved to the new Wembley Centre for Health and Care. The site then served a "back of house function" until it was declared "redundant and surplus to needs" in 2019. During the Covid-19 pandemic, it was temporarily used to store personal protective equipment (PPE). The developer describes the site as an "inactive and underutilised" urban brownfield land ripe for development.
Committee vote and procedural twist
The application first came before the committee in July 2026, where the vote was split 4-4. Chair Cllr Saqib Butt used his casting vote to approve, but the decision was later invalidated when it emerged that Cllr Iftekhar Ahmed, who voted in favour, had not been present for the full discussion, making his vote invalid under council constitution. The revised vote of 3-4 led to rejection, but officers warned that the reasons for refusal would be "difficult to defend" on appeal and could result in significant costs against the council. The decision was therefore deferred.
At the August 5 meeting, the same 4-4 split occurred, with all Labour members supporting and all opposition members against. This time, Chair Cllr Butt's casting vote was valid, and the scheme was approved.
Councillors' objections
Cllr Patel articulated the opposition's concerns: "This application has made some improvement on the previous application. However it is not to the satisfaction of us, first of all starting with the lack of affordable housing. The policy clearly states 50 percent we are far far far below that." He also highlighted the parking shortfall and the impact on 44 neighbouring properties, with 33 affected by overlooking and 12 by reduced sunlight and daylight.
Cllr Michael Maurice said his refusal was "mainly to do with parking" and the loss of daylight, adding the scheme "should never have been accepted." Cllr Anton Georgiou pointed to affordable housing numbers "significantly lower than the policy" and warned of "significant harm" to existing residents who already face parking difficulties.
Next steps
Despite the objections, the approval allows Fairview Estates to proceed with demolition and construction. The developer has also agreed to add a ping pong table in the communal area as leisure provision for young adults. The scheme is expected to deliver homes in a mix of one to three bedrooms, contributing to the borough's housing supply, albeit with a lower-than-desired affordable component.
