South Kilburn residents endure dust and noise from regeneration

Residents of the South Kilburn estate in Brent are enduring persistent dust and noise from a large-scale regeneration scheme that is expected to continue until 2040. The ongoing construction work, part of the South Kilburn Regeneration Scheme led by Brent Council, is causing significant disruption to daily life for those living in the area.

Impact on Residents

Residents have described a constant battle with dust, requiring frequent cleaning of belongings and vehicles. The noise from construction, often starting from 8:30 am, makes working from home challenging, while keeping windows open for ventilation during hot weather brings in more dust and noise. Parking has also become a major issue, with limited spaces often filled by construction vehicles.

One resident, Moses A, who has lived on Granville Road for 18 years, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that his family is on constant alert due to the dust. "My room is covered in dust; there has been a lot of dust getting into my room, especially when it first started. It feels like it is affecting my throat and making my clothes dirty," he said. Another resident, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated, "I feel like I'm constantly cleaning; it is never-ending."

Council Acknowledges Disruption

A Lead Member and Officer's Report to Brent Council's Cabinet acknowledged the difficulties faced by the community. The report stated that the community is experiencing "noise, dust, traffic disruption and increased anti-social behaviour, the inevitable consequences of large-scale, long-term regeneration and construction programmes." It also noted that programme delays due to economic conditions had exacerbated these issues.

The report further indicated that the overall project has experienced delays, leading to issues such as antisocial behaviour, fly-tipping, and squatting in unfinished sections. Some completed new-builds have also reportedly suffered from disrepair, damp, and mould.

Project Progress and Future Development

Ballymore has been appointed as the lead developer for the next phase of the South Kilburn regeneration project. Councillor Robert Johnson, Brent's Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Renters, highlighted the scheme's achievements, stating that it has delivered 1,954 homes, including 1,239 social rent homes, with 933 tenants having moved into new properties. He acknowledged that regeneration of this scale is disruptive and that the council works with developers to minimise impacts.

Councillor Johnson added that Brent Council has agreed a new delivery approach for the remaining sites, which includes stronger recognition of the cumulative impact of construction activity and a commitment to go beyond standard mitigation measures to address issues such as noise, dust, traffic disruption, anti-social behaviour, and fly-tipping.

Residents awaiting rehousing, like Moses Onek of Craik Court, expressed frustration over slow progress and a lack of clear communication regarding their move to new flats, particularly concerning parking availability.