Local councillors have called for the remaining units at a ‘container village’ in North London to be retained for use by local businesses after problematic second-storey modules were removed.
Brent Council claims they were installed at the Kensal Rise site without permission, negatively impact a nearby conservation area – despite there already being around 30 of the same containers situated inside the area – and are a fire safety risk. The site owner has described the reasons as “almost childish”.
Station Terrace in Kensal Rise currently has around 50 shipping containers, which are rented out to local business owners either to store stock or, in some cases, operate like a mini-shop selling directly to customers. Brent Council deems the units sitting inside the conservation area as legitimate but issued an enforcement notice on the site to remove the 20 containers outside of the conservation area.
The site owner, Paul Evers, has since removed the second-tier of the ‘illegitimate’ containers, which had prompted complaints from nearby residents. However, he is hoping to retain the remaining 16 ground-floor units, which the ward councillors are now supporting “in light of that compromise”.
Kensal Rise Councillor, Lesley Smith, said: “I’m glad that some progress has been made with the removal of several second storey containers which had been the source of some of the complaints. In the light of that compromise, I hope an agreement can be reached that allows local businesses to use these facilities without detriment to local residents.”
However, the local authority is maintaining its stance that the containers are “negatively impacting the local area”, as well as raising concerns about fire, highway, and pedestrian safety that “have not been addressed by the owner”.
The council’s decision was upheld by the Planning Inspector earlier this year, whose report suggested the “inadequate servicing and access” routes pose a potential fire safety risk and have a detrimental impact on local highways. In response, Mr Evers said open railings and a street light were installed at the front to give “a complete view of the road and pavement” as vehicles enter and exit.
The most contentious reason given for ordering their removal is that the “bulk, scale, and form” of the units would be “out of character with the surrounding area”, part of which falls within the Kensal Rise Conservation Area. This has infuriated Mr Evers as the conservation area already contains identical units.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “It really is the maddest thing ever, it defies logic. Now I wouldn’t even be able to move the other 30 without permission because they’re in a conservation area!
“The reasons are almost childish. […] They make up things that at a desk look important but in real life are meaningless. Why tell 16 people ‘we are going to take away part of your business’? Lots of businesses use them, they are a kick-start because they are cheap, there’s no contract, you’re not beholden to anything.”
Mr Evers was supposed to have removed the remaining units by the end of September, as outlined by the enforcement notice, however he has still not done so. He is set to submit a planning application to retain the 16 units and hopes that having the support of the ward councillors will encourage council officers to discuss the plans and try to work through any remaining difficulties.
The councillors believe the containers are an important resource for local businesses, they shield homes from the noise of passing trains, reduce the diesel fumes that reach homes from the trains, are “on brand” for the local area, and anything that replaces them would be worse for people in the area, they say.
A Brent Council spokesperson said: “The shipping containers on Station Terrace were installed without planning permission. We acted on residents’ concerns and issued an enforcement notice, which required the owners to remove the containers, but this was then appealed by the owners.
“The Planning Inspector upheld the council’s decision based on many reasons, including that the containers were negatively impacting the appearance of the local area as well as concerns about fire safety, highway and pedestrian safety among other issues that had not been addressed by the owner.
“The Planning Inspectorate upheld our decision in March and required the removal of the containers by September 28. Any future plans for containers in this location will have to take the Inspector’s findings into account.”
Grant Williams is a journalist and Local Democracy Reporter (LDR) for Reach PLC, reporting on local government, politics and community issues across London. As part of the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he has contributed to Harrow Online, covering council decisions, housing developments, transport, planning matters and stories affecting local communities across Harrow and Brent.
