Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Kelcher, Chappell (with Councillor Mahmood attending as substitute) and Jayanti Patel.

As Councillor Kelcher (Chair) had submitted his apologies for absence Councillor S.Butt (as Vice-Chair) took the chair for the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Kelcher, Chappell (with Councillor Mahmood attending as substitute) and Jayanti Patel.

As Councillor Kelcher (Chair) had submitted his apologies for absence Councillor S.Butt (as Vice-Chair) took the chair for the meeting.

Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, the nature and existence of any relevant disclosable pecuniary or personal interests in the items on this agenda and to specify the item(s) to which they relate.

In relation to Agenda Item 4: 24/2877 - 1 Walm Lane, London, NW2 5SN - the Chair advised that due to his publicly stated position against the provision of gambling establishments within the borough and to avoid any allegations of bias or pre-determination, Councillor Johnson had declared a personal disclosable interest and therefore withdrawn from the meeting for the consideration of that item.

In relation to Agenda Item 5 25/0413 – Land North of 125 Preston Road, Wembley, HA9 8NN - all members of the Committee (with the exception of Councillor Mahmood attending as a substitute) confirmed they had received an approach from the applicant and owners of  the neighbouring property (as objectors) but had not engaged in discussion or sought to take any position on the application and therefore felt able to consider the application impartially and without any form of predetermination.

No other declarations of interest were made during the meeting.

It was noted (in relation to Agenda Item 4: 24/2877 - 1 Walm Lane, London, NW2 5SN) that due to his publicly stated position against the provision of gambling establishments within the borough, and to avoid any allegations of bias or pre-determination, Councillor Johnson had declared a personal disclosable interest and therefore withdrawn from the meeting for the consideration of that item.

In relation to Agenda Item 5 25/0413 – Land North of 125 Preston Road, Wembley, HA9 8NN - all members of the Committee (with the exception of Councillor Mahmood attending as a substitute) confirmed they had received an approach from the applicant and owners of the neighbouring property (as objectors) but had not engaged in discussion or sought to take any position on the application and therefore felt able to consider the application impartially and without any form of predetermination.

No other declarations of interest were made during the meeting.

(a)  Monday 4 August 2025

RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meetings held on Monday 4 August 2025 be approved as a correct record of the meeting.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meetings held on Monday 4 August 2025 be approved as a correct record of the meeting.

Granted planning permission subject to the conditions and informatives, as set out in the main committee report.

PROPOSAL

Change of use of basement and ground floor from vacant bank to Adult Gaming Centre (AGC) with alteration to front elevation at ground floor level.

RECOMMENDATION

That the Committee resolve to GRANT planning permission subject to the conditions and informatives detailed in the committee report.

Parag Dhanan (Career Grade Planning Officer) introduced the report, advising members that the application site was a commercial property located on the north side of Walm Lane at the junction of High Road. The property fell within the primary shopping frontage of the Willesden Green Town Centre and, whilst not containing any Listed Buildings, was located within the Willesden Conservation Area.  Members were also reminded that the site had been subject to a previous application (Ref 24/2877) for which permission had been granted on 17 February 2025 which related to a change of use for the basement and ground floor from vacant bank to bingo hall with alteration to front elevation at ground floor level.

Attention was also drawn to the supplementary report circulated in advance of the meeting, which outlined an additional representation received from the Brent East MP (Dawn Butler) objecting to the proposed development.  Members were advised the comments raised reflected those already received and addressed within the main Committee report with the recommendation therefore remaining to grant planning permission subject to the conditions and informatives outlined within the main report.

The Chair thanked Parag Dhanan for introducing the report and advised that as there were no representatives who had registered to speak in relation to the application he would move straight on deal with questions and points of clarity from the Committee, with the following being noted:

·            Further clarification was sought in relation to application of the Local Plan Policy BE5: Protecting retail in town centres and the criteria on active frontages that proposals for adult gaming centres were required to meet.  In terms of the existing town centre, members were advised that there were two pawnbrokers and two adult gaming centres but no payday loan shops in Willesden Green Town Centre.  The total existing length of the town centre frontage consisting of those premises had been assessed as 38m with the total frontage length being 1877m which meant that, as existing, 2.02% of the total frontage length was in adult gaming centre and pawnbrokers/payday loan shop use.

In terms of the application site (1 Walm Lane) that had a frontage length of approx. 9.75m with members advised that if consented for adult gaming centre (AGC) use, the total frontage length in AGC and pawnbrokers/payday loan shop use (including the premises already outlined) would be 47.75m which would result in 2.54% of the total frontage length being in AGC and pawnbrokers/payday loan shop use. The proposals would therefore sit within the threshold criteria of no more than 3% of the town centre frontage consisting of AGC or pawnbrokers/payday loan shops, in line with Local Plan policy BE5.  Whilst criteria (d) under Policy PE5 required that there was a minimum of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Refused the recommended granting of planning permission on for the following reason(s):

• The design of the proposed development was not considered to be in keeping with the character of the surrounding area.

Voting on the above decision was as follows: - 4 in favour of refusal & 1 in favour of granting planning permission.

PROPOSAL

Proposed erection of two storey 3x bedroom dwelling house with installation of a front brick boundary wall for the vacant parcel of land directly to the North of 125 Preston Road.

RECOMMENDATION

That the Committee resolve to GRANT planning permission subject to the conditions and informatives, as detailed in the committee report.

Janseway Cheung (Career Grade Planning Officer) introduced the report, advising members that the proposal sought planning permission for a two storey 3-bed 5-person dwelling which would form a new end of terrace property adjoining with the existing pair of semi-detached dwellings at No.123 and No.125 Preston Road. The dwelling would have an angled mono-pitch roof design, with the highest point towards Pellatt Road, where it met the junction. The proposed development would also incorporate a 6.0m deep single storey rear element that would have a flat roof set at an eaves and maximum height of 3.0m. Other associated works involved the creation of a front forecourt with planting and combined cycle and refuse storage, the erection of a brick front boundary wall, and wooden fenced side boundary treatment. Private external amenity space would be provided to the rear garden for the residents of the property.

The application site related to a grass verge with some shrubs that was located to the north of the dwelling at No.125 Preston Road and was sited on an open road junction, fronting Preston Road to the east and Pellatt Road to the north.  Members were advised that the site was not situated within a Conservation Area and did not contain any designated or undesignated heritage assets and for highway purposes, whilst not within a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ), was located within the Wembley Event Day Parking Zone.

Attention was also drawn to the Supplementary Report circulated in advance of the meeting, which outlined additional representations received in objection from the adjoining neighbour at 125 Preston Road.  Members were advised the comments raised mainly reflected those already received and addressed within the main Committee report, with the recommendation therefore remaining to grant planning permission subject to the conditions and informatives outlined within the main report.

The Chair thanked Janseway Cheung for introducing the report.  As there were no Committee questions raised at this point, the Chair then moved on to the consider the requests which had been received to speak on the application and invited Nisha & Kunal Shah (who had registered to speak in objection) to address the Committee in relation to the application, who highlighted the following points:

Advising that they were speaking as the adjoining neighbours to the site at 125 Preston Road Nisha & Kunal Shah outlined what they felt to be a number of weaknesses in the basis of the assessment supporting the recommendation within the report with specific concerns highlighted in relation to the following areas:

·            The impact arising from the design of the proposal on the character of the area.  Members were advised that the proposal would have the effect of attaching a new dwelling directly  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Notice of items to be raised under this heading must be given in writing to the Deputy Director Democratic & Corporate Governance or their representative before the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 60.

There was no other urgent business.

There was no other urgent business.