Concerns have been raised following a decision to build new homes on the land currently used as Stanmore’s tube station car park.
Residents claim it will cause chaos near to the station during peak times and mean valuable spaces in the town may be used by commuters heading into London on the Jubilee line.
The decision has been made as part of Sadiq Khan’s new London Development Panel (LDP) and will affect Stanmore, Canons Park and Rayners Lane tube station car parks.
In total 400 affordable homes will be built across the three car parks with the scheme led by Transport for London (TfL).
The development will go ahead once a building partner is agreed an TfL have launched a detailed consultation process for neighbouring communities.
The car park currently has 450 parking bays, including 12 disabled bays. The area of land available for development amounts to 1.51 ha (3.15 acres).
Stanmore resident, Robyn Mitchell, told My Stanmore News: “It seems crazy that they can close such a busy car park.
“It will force commuters into the town or to park in residential areas. The impact could be huge although I accept more affordable housing is needed; there must be better sites.”
Cllr Keith Ferry, Deputy Leader of Harrow Council, said: “The delivery of affordable housing is a crucial part of our plans to build a better Harrow, and we welcome this initiative from TfL.
“The opportunity to improve step-free access at Stanmore station is particularly important to us. We look forward to working with TfL and the selected developer to make sure these developments are of good quality and improve their neighbourhoods.”
Graeme Craig, Director of Commercial Development at TfL, said: “Located in prime locations, immediately adjacent to tube stations, these sites present an exciting opportunity for us to provide 100 per cent affordable homes for Londoners who desperately need them.
“This is one of a number of examples of how we’re working with the mayor to transform neighbourhoods across the capital and generate hundreds of millions of pounds to plough back into the transport network.”
Picture courtesy of Hoss Photography
What do you consider ‘affordable’ will working people really be able to get mortgages and buy these affordable homes??
What is going to happen to the people who
use Canons Park and Stanmore stations to
get to work . This is a huge number and the
total disregard for them is outrageous.
Harrow council are the pits they are and
have always been money grabbers and
nothing else. Complete and utter disregard
for the local community
Jenny Gaunt
If the current car park at Stanmore is mainly used by commuters from further afield the reduced spaces are no big deal.
The problem arises on event days at Wembley Stadium
Leave the car parks alone yuo stupid morons
Isn’t life tough enough for people working. To take away their parking is so totally unfair. I appreciate that more housing is needed but is this really a well thought out plan. It just means that life is going to get harder for the commuters who already put up with constantly increasing fares.
There are areas in the country which have truly available land, not by taking heavily used land away.
The other week there was a report about making retail parking spaces more expensive which will yet again hit the shops which are dying at the moment.
This country has lost it’s way. It is so sad
Why can’t the affordable housing be built over the existing car parks both at Northwood and Stanmore. Building over such spaces is not rocket science. Get a grip and think of local residents for once not just profit?