The development of a huge tower block in North London has been given the green light after plans for a part 27, part 30 storey building were approved unanimously by the local council. The development’s 180 properties are said to be 100 per cent affordable but concerns have been raised about whether the shared ownership units are truly affordable for residents in the borough.
Brent Council has unanimously approved plans to redevelop Argenta House – a vacant site opposite Stonebridge Park station – at a recent Planning Committee meeting (November 12). The application qualified for fast-tracking due to it being “100 per cent affordable” housing.
The enormous block will tower above the surrounding area, with developers claiming it will act “as a catalyst” for a wider regeneration of the area. The 180 homes will be broken down into 88 made available for social rent – including 40 three-beds to address the need for family sized homes – and 92 at shared ownership.
Cllr Saqib Butt questioned the true affordability of shared ownership properties but was told by council officers that this type of accommodation “is recognised as affordable” in Brent. The plans also include a small commercial space – intended to be used as a cafe – 338 cycle spaces due to it being a car-free development, and a £222,750 financial contribution towards improvements to Stonebridge Park station.
Development Manager at Latimer by Clarion Housing – the development arm of Clarion Housing Association – Sandy Walker, said: “This proposal secures the long-term future of a site that has stalled and been vacant for three years, delivering lasting benefits for Brent and the local community in three key ways.”
Mr Walker outlined these benefits as delivering homes “to meet the demand for affordable housing” in the borough, providing new amenities and green spaces, and acting as a “catalyst” for the regeneration of Stonebridge Park more widely.
He also pointed to plans to “renaturalise” the nearby Wembley Brook as part of the application, after there were issues with flooding in 2023. The Argenta site has been left vacant for three years after a previous approved plan for 141 homes. However, the floods resulted from the blocking of the Brook – which runs through the site – when the groundworks took place, pausing the development.
Associate Landscape Architect on the latest project, Bob Davis, said he had been working with the Environment Agency and drawn out plans to mitigate the flooding of the Brook, which include “breaking out the concrete channel and naturalising it”, adding soft landscaping and terracing it up. A risk assessment and flood modelling undertaken concluded that it does not impact on the wider risk of flooding in the area, according to the developers.
Money has also been allocated for improvements to the nearby Brent River Park, which will provide access to residents of the block to compensate for the lack of open space on the site. It currently only provides a small space at the ground floor and a ‘play nest’ on the first floor. Works are expected to start in early 2026, with developers looking to deliver the site “as quickly as possible.”
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.
