How did HTA achieve a building that challenges the local context as a result of its height?
HTA successfully secured planning permission for the change of use from warehouse to student residential accommodation in March 2016. This building significantly challenged perceptions in relation to appropriate height and planning policy relating to height in Brent. We were able to – through the involvement of CABE – work with the Council on reaching appropriate support for a significant height increase of 10 storeys over and above local planning policy guidance at the time. Apex House was originally a 2 storey warehouse building and we successfully negotiated planning permission for a 29 storey residential building with 558 student accommodation rooms on a site of 0.188 hectares. The site has a PTAL of 4/5. Tide purchased the site on an unconditional basis and therefore needed to move quickly through the design and planning process. We advised Tide on the planning strategy for the site, and the fact that planning policy would allow a change of use. We advised on the need to consult with the London Borough of Brent and the GLA in advance of the submissions. Our knowledge of the area highlighted the opportunity for a major new development in place of the small warehouse. Officers were concerned about Councillors response to the scale of the building, being the largest in Wembley, and an important part of our work on the project was to convince officers of the quality of the accommodation and they should support the scheme to members. We identified that other emerging proposals in the Wembley area supported tall buildings on the site, and the proposals successfully fitted in with a new master plan for much of the Wembley area.
