Agenda item

Willesden Green Health and Wellbeing Integrated Hub

This report seeks Cabinet approval for the redevelopment of the Gladstone Park Youth and Community Centre site to deliver a new Health and Wellbeing Integrated Hub. The Hub will provide modern health services, community amenities, and wellbeing spaces for some of Brent’s most disadvantaged communities, while supporting growth in nearby regeneration areas with approval being sought for the required SCIL funding allocation and delegated authority to enable disposal and lease arrangements for delivery of the scheme.

Decision:

Prior to considering the report, Cabinet noted the representations and comments made by Dr Muhammed Najim (as a lead GP located within the Willesden Green surgery and NHS Brent’s Clinical Director for Health Inequalities) supported by Tom Shakespeare (Managing Director Brent Integrated Care Board) speaking in support of the proposals outlined within the report to develop a Health and Wellbeing Integrated Hub on the Gladstone Park Youth and Community Centre site, which would deliver modern primary health services alongside a range of community amenities and wellbeing spaces for some of Brent’s most deprived communities within a modern, sustainable building. In thanking the Council for their support, the opportunity was also taken to outline the engagement with local community groups in seeking to develop the scheme in partnership with the NHS and in line with the transition towards an Integrated Neighbourhood model with the Hub becoming a flagship centre for health and wellbeing and centre for green excellence.

Having welcomed the support expressed and process of engagement led by the Willesden Green GP surgery in developing the Integrated Hub proposals Cabinet RESOLVED to:

(1) Approve the allocation of up to £2.97m Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (SCIL) funding to support the redevelopment of the Gladstone Park Youth and Community Centre site into the Willesden Green Health and Wellbeing Integrated Hub, as set out in section 3.14 (Option 1) of the report, subject to the conditions in (2) below.

(2) Approve the release of SCIL funding in staged payments, aligned to delivery milestones and contingent upon:

· Planning consent being granted;

· Confirmation of the full external funding; and

· Completion of the agreement to lease with Willesden Green Surgery.

(3) Approve the granting a 150-year peppercorn lease to Willesden Green Surgery to enable delivery of the Hub, with the Council retaining the freehold and securing lease clauses to protect health and community uses in perpetuity.

(4) Authorise the Director of Property and Assets to agree the detailed terms of the agreement to lease and long lease disposal and to enter into the necessary legal agreements to facilitate the disposal and development and to take all necessary steps to complete the transaction.

(5) Note the intentions to relocate Kilburn Cosmos Rugby Football Club (KCRFC) from the Gladstone Park Youth & Community Centre to the Gladstone Park Pavilion to secure suitable alternative premises for KCRFC and full vacant possession of the site to enable on-site delivery.

(6) Note that Willesden Green Health and Wellbeing Integrated Hub would be a temporary working name for the new facility. The permanent name would be determined following discussions with key stakeholders, to reflect the hub’s location within the Cricklewood and Mapesbury ward and to ensure the name was appropriate and inclusive.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Monday 24 November 25

Minutes:

Prior to considering the report, Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) welcomed Dr Muhammed Najim (as a lead GP located within the Willesden Green surgery and NHS Brent’s Clinical Director for Health Inequalities) and Tom Shakespeare (Managing Director, Brent Integrated Care Board) to the meeting who he advised had requested to speak in support of the proposals Cabinet were being asked to consider relating to development of the Willesden Green Health and Wellbeing Integrated Hub.

In addressing Cabinet, Dr Muhammed Najim began by advising members of the background to the proposed development of the Integrated Hub starting with the longstanding nature and role played by the Willesden Green Surgery as a family run GP practice in providing primary health care services for some of Brent’s most deprived communities. Highlighting the success of the surgery in terms of numbers of GP appointments being offered, high early cancer detection rates and innovative services available, including the provision of ultrasound guided surgery, which had resulting in them being shortlisted for GP Team of the year in the National General Practice Awards 2025, it was pointed out this had also created challenges with the registered patient list size having increased from 3,000 to 15,000 over the previous 7 years. This had resulted in the practice currently serving the healthcare needs of approx. 5% of Brent’s resident population out of a converted makeshift 3-bedroom ground floor apartment operating in a space with the least square footage of all 400 GP practices in the NHS North West London area.

As such, he advised that all staff at the surgery were excited to have been involved in developing the proposals to deliver a new Health and Wellbeing Integrated Hub on the Gladstone Park Youth and Community Centre site, designed to deliver modern health services, community amenities and wellbeing spaces for the local community including relocation of the Willesden Green Surgery. In expressing support for the proposals being presented to Cabinet, the opportunity was taken to highlight that the Integrated Hub would be the first of its kind in NHS North West London with the building based on a modern and sustainable design also making it one of the lowest carbon and energy efficient NHS buildings in London.

In providing further detail, Dr Najim highlighted that the new local Integrated Neighbourhood Team would have access to clinical and non-clinical space on site, serving the healthcare needs of all local residents (including not only those currently registered at the surgery) with the scheme providing new outdoor community space including an outdoor gym, padel court, and wellbeing studio space as well as a community café. Recognising the need to encourage more active lifestyles, he highlighted the role the Hub would be able to play in empowering that type of activity and in creating a social space for everyone. Outlining the engagement already undertaken with the Friends of Gladstone Park, Dr Najim advised of the ongoing focus (working with a range of community groups) to ensure the additional community space and facilities being provided were welcomed by local residents also outlining plans to include the provision of a new community pharmacy as part of the Hub.

In summing up, Dr Najim ended by assuring members of the care and focus on the design of the building, involving the engagement of a leading healthcare architect and reflecting the commitment to enhance existing features within the park. The opportunity was also taken to thank the Council for their support in seeking to deliver what it was felt would be a unique and exciting flagship hub that would serve Brent residents for many decades.

The Leader then invited Tom Shakespeare (as Managing Director, Brent Integrated Care Partnership) to speak who highlighted that the proposal had been developed in partnership with the NHS, reflecting the transition towards an Integrated Neighbourhood model and drive to deliver good quality primary health care space within the borough with the Hub designed as a flagship centre for health and wellbeing as well as a centre for green excellence.

Having thanked Dr Najim and Tom Shakespeare for their comments, the Leader then invited Councillor Teo Benea (as Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Property) to introduce the accompanying report from the Corporate Director Neighbourhoods & Regeneration seeking approval for redevelopment of the Gladstone Park Youth & Community Centre site to deliver the new Health and Wellbeing Integrated Hub along with the required Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (SCIL) funding allocation and delegated authority to enable disposal of the site and lease arrangements for delivery of the scheme.

In introducing the report, Councillor Benea began by thanking Dr Najim for his comments in support for the proposals and for his engagement in seeking to take forward the scheme, which it was pointed out represented a significant regeneration opportunity for the existing site. Highlighting the building on the current site as beyond economic repair, members were advised the proposal would enable its replacement with a modern Health and Wellbeing Integrated Hub reflecting the needs and aspirations of the local community and demonstrating the way in which planning, investment and partnership could be combined and used to deliver better social outcomes for residents of the borough from underused public land.

Referencing the schemes close alignment with the Council’s wider regeneration objectives, including improving access to essential services, supporting nearby growth areas, and making better long-term use of Council assets, it was felt the co-location of GP services with community health facilities, a pharmacy and flexible activity spaces within the Hub would create a genuine focal point for the area, reducing barriers to care and helping to address persistent health inequalities in some of the most deprived neighbourhoods within the borough. In terms of funding, members were also reminded that approx. 60% of the project costs were being covered through confirmed external NHS and GP practice funding, representing a major investment for Brent that was also felt to demonstrate the value of partnership-led regeneration, with the SCIL contribution designed to help unlock funding while retaining freehold of the site in Council ownership. Members were advised that the report also set out the practical steps required to deliver the scheme, including lease arrangements and securing vacant possession through the relocation of Kilburn Cosmos Rugby Football Club (RFC), which would ensure the development could proceed on time and in a way that would deliver long lasting benefits as part of a positive and forward-looking investment with those officers involved also thanked for their support in development of the proposals.

In highlighting support for the scheme, Councillor Grahl (as local ward councillor) commended the approach outlined in seeking to transform the existing site for use as a flagship development providing a Health and Wellbeing Integrated Hub delivering modern primary health services alongside a range of community amenities and wellbeing spaces. All those involved in development of the scheme were thanked for their work and efforts to engage with the local community, with the case in support felt to have been well presented. In commending the scheme, it was also hoped that the permanent name for the facility would be able to reflect the Hub’s location within the Cricklewood and Mapesbury ward.

having noted the integral role the Hub would play in support of the NHS’s transition from institution to community-based services, members also welcomed the way in which the scheme had been designed to reflect the Council’s objectives and community vision along with the engagement undertaken with the Friends of Gladstone Park, Library and other park users. The focus on delivery of local health support within the communities served as well as on preventative care and in seeking to reduce health inequalities and improve health outcomes for residents through the co-location of services (including the community pharmacy) was also welcomed with the opportunity also taken to highlight the combination of funding sources supporting the project and wider value of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) receipts being driven through delivery of the ambitious programme of regeneration across Brent in supporting schemes such as the Integrated Health & Wellbeing Hub.

In once again thanking Dr Najim (on behalf of the Willesden Green Surgery) & Tom Shakespeare (on behalf of the ICB) for their support and collaboration in development of the Integrated Hub proposals, recognising the wider benefits identified in relation to the provision of the Integrated Hub, Cabinet RESOLVED having noted the additional valuation information contained within the exempt appendix to the report, to: