130 Oppose Kensal Green Victorian Centre Demolition

Key Points

• A controversial plan proposes demolishing the Victorian Community Centre and Harriet Tubman House at 26 and 28 Hazel Road in Kensal Green, North London, to build a new four-storey office block serving as headquarters and training centre for social mobility charity Making The Leap.
• More than 130 residents and stakeholders have formally opposed the scheme, citing the loss of a heritage building and potential harm to the local area.
• Brent Council’s planning committee is scheduled to review and decide on the application next week.
• The new development would include a training room, workspace, job search and IT rooms, a social hub, and a roof terrace.
• The site is located directly above train lines serving Kensal Green Underground and Overground station, imposing weight restrictions that limit building extensions.
• Making The Leap, originally based in Harlesden, purchased the buildings from Brent Council in 2002 and renovated the former community centre for training programmes aimed at young people from less-advantaged socio-economic backgrounds.
• The charity supports approximately 8,000 young people annually but argues the existing structure is “dated and not fit-for-purpose,” with limited reuse and retrofit opportunities due to small spaces and Transport for London tunnel constraints.
• Local councillors and residents oppose the demolition, emphasising the heritage value of the Victorian building.
• The charity contends the new facility would enable participants to practise skills in a modern building resembling potential employer premises.

Kensal Green (North London News) February 6, 2026 – A divisive proposal to raze a cherished Victorian community centre and adjacent Harriet Tubman House in Kensal Green has ignited fierce opposition, with more than 130 objections lodged against the scheme. Brent Council’s planning committee will deliberate on the application next week, weighing the social mobility charity Making The Leap’s bid to replace the aging structures at 26 and 28 Hazel Road with a contemporary four-storey office block. The site, perched atop vital train lines to Kensal Green Underground and Overground station, underscores the tension between heritage preservation and modern community needs.

What Is the Proposed Development?

The application seeks approval for a new headquarters and training centre comprising a training room, flexible workspace, dedicated job search and IT suites, a social hub, and an elevated roof terrace. As outlined in the planning documents submitted to Brent Council, this four-storey structure aims to better serve Making The Leap’s mission.

Originally rooted in Harlesden, the charity acquired the properties from Brent Council in 2002, transforming the former community centre into a venue for youth training programmes. These initiatives target young individuals from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, providing essential skills for employment.

However, Making The Leap asserts that the Victorian-era building now falls short. In their submission, the charity explains:

“Reuse and retrofit opportunities for the existing building are limited. The current spaces are too small for [our] current programme and the building cannot be extended due to weight restrictions on the Transport for London tunnels.”

This structural constraint, given the site’s position over active rail infrastructure, renders expansion unfeasible.

Furthermore, the organisation highlights a forward-looking benefit:

“Further, the proposed development would allow participants to learn and practice skills learnt in a building similar in style to buildings of some employers they may be seeking.”

This modern aesthetic, they argue, bridges the gap between training and real-world job environments, enhancing employability for their 8,000 annual beneficiaries.

Why Do Over 130 Oppose the Plan?

Opposition has swelled to more than 130 formal objections, spearheaded by local residents and councillors who decry the prospective loss of a Victorian heritage asset. Kensal Green’s community views the buildings as integral to the area’s character, with detractors warning of irreversible harm to the neighbourhood’s historical fabric.

Local sentiment, as reflected in objection letters to Brent Council, emphasises the cultural significance of the site. Residents argue that demolishing these structures would erode Kensal Green’s distinct identity, particularly amid broader concerns over urban development pressures in North London.

Councillors have echoed these fears, labelling the plan a threat to local heritage. The chorus of dissent underscores a classic planning clash: preserving the past versus adapting for future community services.

What Does Making The Leap Say About the Current Building?

Making The Leap does not mince words on the building’s inadequacies. The charity describes it as “dated and not fit-for-purpose,” ill-equipped to meet contemporary demands. Having renovated the site post-2002 purchase, they now find it “no longer able to accommodate the needs of the charity” amid serving roughly 8,000 young people yearly.

Planning documents elaborate on physical limitations. Spaces are deemed too cramped for expanded programmes, while overhead rail tunnels – managed by Transport for London – impose strict weight limits, precluding vertical or lateral growth. Retrofit efforts, though explored, prove unviable given these engineering realities.

This narrative frames demolition not as destruction but as necessity. By replacing the Victorian hall with a purpose-built facility, Making The Leap positions itself to scale impact, offering trainees exposure to professional-grade environments that mirror corporate workplaces.

How Does the Site’s Location Influence the Debate?

The location atop train lines serving Kensal Green station amplifies the controversy. This precarious positioning not only curtails modifications to the existing structure but also heightens scrutiny on any new build’s structural integrity.

Transport for London’s weight restrictions loom large, validating Making The Leap’s retrofit challenges. Yet opponents question whether a four-storey replacement adequately addresses these risks, urging Brent Council to prioritise safety alongside heritage.

Proximity to the station also boosts the site’s community value, with residents arguing it deserves protection as a transport-adjacent landmark. This geographic factor weaves engineering, accessibility, and preservation into a multifaceted planning puzzle.

What Is Brent Council’s Role in the Decision?

Brent Council’s planning committee holds the decisive gavel, with a meeting slated for next week. The authority previously sold the properties to Making The Leap in 2002, a transaction now under implicit review amid heritage concerns.

Committee members must navigate duelling imperatives: supporting charitable endeavours that uplift disadvantaged youth versus safeguarding Victorian architecture. Local councillors’ opposition signals potential headwinds, though the charity’s social mission may sway approvals.

As the decision nears, all eyes turn to Brent Civic Centre, where public input and expert testimony could tip the scales.

Who Are the Key Players Involved?

Making The Leap stands as the applicant, a social mobility charity with deep roots in Harlesden. Their purchase and overhaul of the site in 2002 reflect long-term commitment, now pivoting towards modernisation.

Brent Council acts as gatekeeper, having divested the properties two decades ago. Its planning committee faces a high-stakes vote.

Local Residents and Councillors form the opposition bloc, with over 130 voices decrying heritage loss. Their objections, filed via formal channels, amplify grassroots influence.

Kensal Green Community emerges as the emotional core, viewing the Victorian centre as a neighbourhood cornerstone.

Why Is the Victorian Building Considered Heritage?

The Community Centre and Harriet Tubman House embody Victorian architectural legacy, a rarity in evolving North London suburbs. Opponents hail their historical role as communal hubs, predating modern developments.

Naming one building after Harriet Tubman – the abolitionist icon – adds symbolic weight, tying the site to social justice narratives resonant with Making The Leap’s ethos. Demolition risks severing this thread.

Though not statutorily listed, locals accord it de facto heritage status, urging protection akin to other preserved North London gems in areas like Camden or Tottenham.

What Happens Next Week at the Planning Committee?

Next week’s Brent Council session promises rigorous scrutiny. Expect presentations from Making The Leap detailing programme needs, countered by resident testimonies on heritage merits.

The committee will assess compliance with local plans, weighing social benefits against cultural costs. A vote could approve, reject, or defer with conditions.

Outcomes may set precedents for similar North London disputes, where charities clash with conservationists over dated assets.

Could Retrofit Alternatives Work?

Making The Leap dismisses retrofitting outright, citing spatial shortages and tunnel-induced weight caps. Yet opponents speculate on creative adaptations, like modular expansions or efficiency tweaks.

Engineering reports in the application reinforce the charity’s stance, but public debate questions if all options were exhausted. Brent Council may probe this during deliberations.

How Does This Fit North London Planning Trends?

Kensal Green’s saga mirrors Brent’s broader tussles, akin to historic applications in nearby Tottenham or Camden. Councils grapple with balancing growth against legacy buildings.

Making The Leap’s plea for modernity aligns with trends favouring employability hubs, yet heritage lobbies grow vocal amid urban densification.