The Harrow Council Planning Committee convened in October, primarily to discuss and decide on a hybrid planning application for the redevelopment of the Harrow Civic Centre, also known as Poet's Corner. The committee voted to grant the application, subject to a legal agreement, for a project that includes phased demolition, construction of residential buildings, and provision for commercial and community spaces.

Harrow Civic Centre Redevelopment (PL/0501/25)

The committee approved the hybrid planning application for the Harrow Civic Centre, Station Road site, also known as Poet's Corner, subject to a legal agreement. This project involves demolishing existing structures in phases and constructing new residential buildings, including apartment blocks and townhouses, alongside flexible commercial, business, service, learning, and community spaces.

The application is a hybrid of detailed and outline planning, with the detailed element focusing on the southern part of the site and the outline element on the northern part.

Detailed Phase:

• Construction of 530 dwellings, with a mix of build to rent and London Living Rent¹ homes.
• 134 sqm of non-residential floorspace.
• Building heights ranging from 3 to 12 storeys.

Outline Phase:

• Up to 528 dwellings.
• A minimum of 1,116 sqm of non-residential floorspace.
• Building heights ranging from 6 to 15 storeys.

The overall development aims to provide 1,058 homes, with at least 20.65% designated as affordable, and a minimum of 1,300 sqm of non-residential space. It also focuses on retaining existing trees, planting new ones, and creating public open spaces.

During the discussion, Councillor Nitin Parekh raised concerns about discrepancies in the number of units reported in different documents, the length of the build to rent covenant, and the loss of civic space. The planning officer clarified that the unit numbers had been revised and that the 15-year build to rent covenant was a London Plan requirement.

Councillor Ghazanfar Ali raised concerns about parking pressure on surrounding streets and sought assurances about pedestrian access during construction. The planning officer responded that surveys would be carried out to assess the impact on controlled parking zones² and that pedestrian access would be maintained throughout the project.

An objector, Mrs Harsha Trivedi, expressed concerns about the lack of notification, drainage issues, and the impact of the development on local services.

An agent, Charles Scott, speaking on behalf of the applicant, highlighted the project's benefits, including the provision of new homes, retail and community spaces, and significant green spaces.

Councillor Samir Sumaria commented that the development would bring a lot of generation to jobs and businesses in the area.

Councillor Simon Brown expressed disappointment that only 20% affordable housing could be provided on the council's own site and concern that the existing GP infrastructure in that particular area is inadequate to take in an extra five thousand patients.

The committee voted to grant the application, with Councillors Christopher Baxter, Salim Chowdhury, Samir Sumaria and Zak Wagman in favour, and Councillors Nitin Parekh, Ghazanfar Ali and Simon Brown abstaining.