Key Points
- Plans by Wembley developers Quintain to build a new hotel on a patch of land at the foot of Wembley Stadium’s Olympic Steps have faced strong local opposition.
- The site, known as Plot NW04, currently hosts temporary ‘meanwhile’ spaces including Market Square and Samovar Space, used as a market square and children’s soft play area since 2022.
- Quintain announced in November 2025 that it will submit a formal Reserved Matters Application (RMA) to Brent Council in early 2026 for a hotel (or possibly offices).
- The plot has outline planning permission for either a hotel or office building under the 2011 Wembley Masterplan, with designs approved in 2018.
- A Change.org petition launched by Haider Nasrallah on or around 28 January 2026 calls on Quintain to halt the plans; it garnered over 100 signatures in just two days.
- Petitioners claim the development would overshadow and diminish the “cherished” community space, cause increased traffic congestion, noise pollution, environmental damage, and strain local infrastructure.
- Computer-generated images (CGIs) show the hotel entrance and lobby opening onto Samovar Square, with retail or restaurants on Olympic Way.
- Quintain states Samovar Space was always temporary; they plan to redesign it into a multifunctional public plaza for events, preserving cherry trees from Market Square.
- The developer waited for completion of the new Olympic Steps before advancing proposals; construction, if approved, could start late 2026 or early 2027, lasting 2-3 years.
- Local blog Wembley Matters has highlighted the petition and community concerns, questioning Quintain’s priorities and suggesting alternative sites like derelict Olympic House.
- Brent Council approved a £12.1m contribution for area revamp, conditional on not maxing out building height/scale and creating a larger public square.
- Revised plans lower the building height slightly and reduce density compared to originals; Quintain commits to engaging residents ahead of submission in February/March 2026.
Wembley, Brent (North London News), January 31, 2026 – A petition opposing Quintain’s plans for a hotel on a beloved community space at the foot of Wembley Stadium’s Olympic Steps has rapidly gained over 100 signatures from residents concerned about its impact on local life and the environment.
The Change.org petition, initiated by local resident Haider Nasrallah, urges Quintain to abandon the development on Plot NW04, arguing it threatens a “cherished” area used for markets and children’s play since 2022. Quintain, the developers behind much of Wembley Park’s regeneration, confirmed in November 2025 their intention to submit a formal application to Brent Council early this year, following completion of the new Olympic Steps. The site, adjacent to Brent Council’s Civic Centre, holds outline permission from the 2011 Masterplan for either a hotel or offices.
What Sparked the Petition?
The petition explicitly warns that the hotel would
“not only overshadow and diminish this much-loved space”
but also lead to increased traffic congestion, noise pollution, environmental damage, and additional strain on local infrastructure, as stated by Haider Nasrallah in the Change.org post. Residents echo these fears, with commenters on Wembley Matters blog questioning why Quintain cannot develop alternative sites, such as the derelict Olympic House on Olympic Way or expand the existing Novotel, both of which have planning permissions.
As reported on Wembley Matters blog, one anonymous commenter stated:
“Doesn’t Quintain have planning permission for a hotel on the current Olympic House site along Olympic Way? And planning permission to expand the Novotel? Why can’t they just do that, which would provide a new hotel and help regenerate the area as Olympic House has been derelict for years?”
Another remarked:
“Quintain only care about themselves and their profits – the big boss of Quintain we spoke to lives in a tiny village in Bedfordshire whilst overseeing the destruction of Wembley with tower blocks everywhere!!!”
Wembley Matters, a local blog run by community advocates, promoted the petition on X (formerly Twitter) on 30 January 2026, titling it “WEMBLEY MATTERS: Petition to Halt the Proposed Hotel Development at Samovar Space and Wembley Park Market Square (Plot NW04).”
What Are Quintain’s Plans for the Site?
Quintain’s statement, as quoted on Wembley Matters on 25 August 2025, explains:
“NW04 has outline planning approval for either a Hotel or Office use and the form and position of the building on the site were approved in 2018*. Designs are currently being prepared by Quintain for a Hotel on the site and it is intended that the Reserved Matters Application (RMA) will be submitted in early 2026.”
Developers unveiled CGIs in late 2025 showing the hotel’s entrance and lobby opening directly onto Samovar Square, with ground-floor retail or restaurants along Olympic Way, according to a Shortlist.com article. Quintain promises the space will become a
“multifunctional public space for community events,”
enhancing pedestrian links to Wembley Park Boulevard, and will preserve cherry trees from the current Market Square for use in markets, outdoor cinema, or festivals.
As per Yahoo UK News on 1 December 2025, Quintain committed:
“Quintain has committed to engaging with local residents and stakeholders ahead of the formal application submission, anticipated for February or March next year. If the proposal receives approval, construction is expected to commence by late 2026 at the earliest, with the building process likely spanning two to three years.”
The blog notes the spaces will remain “for at least the next calendar year,” potentially delaying construction to early 2027.
Why Is This Site Significant to Locals?
Samovar Space and Market Square form part of temporary ‘meanwhile’ uses co-curated with young people in Brent, providing rare open space amid Wembley Park’s tower blocks, as highlighted in Quintain’s own statement shared on Wembley Matters. Petition supporters view it as a
“cherished community space now under threat,”
with alternatives suggested for the hotel nearby.
Wembley Matters blogger, in an 29 January 2026 post, detailed the petition’s call to action, emphasising the unique pedestrian quality of the area that could be lost. Community frustration also ties to broader regeneration: one commenter demanded: “If they are going ahead with this development perhaps we can please have our £17.8million back please to build some local community spaces outside of Quintain land!!!”
What Is the Planning Background?
The plot’s development aligns with Quintain’s long-term Wembley regeneration, granted outline permission in 2004 and detailed in Brent’s Wembley Area Action Plan. Brent Council secured a £12.1m contribution for revamping the area around the Civic Centre Library, provided Quintain scales back height and creates a bigger public square, per Shortlist.com.
Revised plans, as covered by Wembley Matters on 20 November 2025, lower the building slightly and reduce density from originals, with submission eyed for February/March 2026. Wembley Matters noted:
“Quintain said that this space was always meant to be temporary… As Brent Council has had little success in letting its own surplus office space a hotel sounds more likely.”
Residents of nearby Landsby East fear overlooking by hotel rooms.
How Has the Community Responded?
Beyond the petition’s quick 100+ signatures, online discourse on Wembley Matters reveals deep scepticism. A commenter urged:
“If Quintain genuinely cared about the community here in Wembley Park they would give up the planning permission to construct a building there and instead invest in up-scaling the existing community space to make it an amazing public area.”
The blog questions transparency:
“They need to be transparent about the timings for this. One piece of their statement says ‘at least the next 12 months’ – which I would read as meaning they’ll start construction in August 2026.”
Wembley Matters also linked it to potential Brent Council tourist tax for events.
No formal Brent Council response to the petition appears yet, but their democracy site allows public petitions on borough matters.
What Happens Next?
Quintain plans resident engagement before submission, with approval potentially leading to construction late 2026. The petition remains active on Change.org, with recent signers noted as of 28 January 2026. Brent Council will decide on the RMA, weighing masterplan permissions against community input.
