Key Points
- Planning Approval Granted: Property developer Berkeley Group has secured full planning permission from Brent Council for Phase 4C of its mixed-use Grand Union masterplan.
- New Residential Units: The newly approved phase will deliver 505 private residential properties across three multi-storey buildings.
- Architectural Layout: Designed by architecture firm Sheppard Robson, the three blocks (designated L1, L2, and L3) form a courtyard arrangement, with the tallest structure rising to 29 storeys.
- Site Infrastructure: Phase 4C will complete a key north-south pedestrian route connecting Beresford Avenue to Linear Park.
- Sequential Progress: The approval follows planning permission secured earlier in 2026 for Phase 4B, which comprises 168 social rented homes.
Brent (North London News) October 8, 2026 – Property developer Berkeley Group has officially secured planning permission from Brent Council for Phase 4C of its Grand Union mixed-use masterplan.
As reported by Simon Creasey of BE News, the latest approval allows the developer to construct 505 private residential homes spread across three distinct buildings. The scheme forms a key stage in the wider multi-phase transformation of the 22-acre brownfield site located in Alperton, North West London.
What are the key details of the newly approved phase?
According to architectural details published by design practice Sheppard Robson, Phase 4C comprises three structures—identified in planning documents as L1, L2, and L3. Arranged in a central courtyard configuration, the buildings feature varied heights and forms. The landmark element of this phase is the tallest block, which reaches up to 29 storeys.
Beyond the provision of 505 private residential units, Phase 4C completes a primary north-south connectivity route designed to link Beresford Avenue directly to Linear Park. As noted in press coverage by BE News, the crescent-shaped crown on the 29-storey tower is intended to give the park frontage a distinct architectural quality as the development extends across the wider landscape.
The approval for Phase 4C follows a related consent granted by local planners earlier in the year. As reported by Building Design, Berkeley Group received planning permission in May 2026 for Phase 4B of the masterplan, which comprises 168 social rented homes.
What is the wider background of the Grand Union development?
The Grand Union masterplan represents a major long-term residential and commercial regeneration effort in the London Borough of Brent. Situated on a former industrial plot along the junction of the Grand Union Canal and the River Brent, the 22-acre site was previously inaccessible to the public.
First granted hybrid planning approval in September 2018, the overarching project is being delivered by St George, a subsidiary of the Berkeley Group. Upon full completion, the masterplan is projected to deliver more than 3,000 new homes alongside public open spaces, canalside piazzas, commercial units, and community facilities. Early phases of the project have already been completed, with initial residents moving into homes on the site from late 2021 onwards.
What is the prediction for how this development will affect local residents and buyers?
The approval of Phase 4C will directly impact both prospective home buyers and the surrounding community in Alperton and Brent.
For housing supply, the addition of 505 private homes—alongside the previously approved 168 social units in Phase 4B—will significantly increase local housing capacity in Zone 3 North West London. The completion of the primary pedestrian axis from Beresford Avenue to Linear Park is expected to enhance neighborhood permeability, opening up previously fragmented industrial land and providing wider public access to landscaped green space and canal routes.
However, the addition of high-density tower structures—most notably the 29-storey building—will alter the local skyline and increase demand on local transit networks such as Stonebridge Park and Alperton stations during peak commuting hours.
