The start of construction has been marked by two ground-breaking ceremonies on a £28 million housing project that will aim to deliver two new community centres along with much-needed affordable homes for Brent residents.

Raj Mistry, secretary of the Brent Indian Community Centre, said: “This new centre will be a huge help. Currently, we have use of a building for just three hours a week, but when this new centre is built, we will be able to use it seven days a week. It will be a place for people to socialise and to keep warm in the cost-of-living crisis. We will also be able to let it out, which will help us to maintain and run the building.”

The start of building work was welcomed by residents and councillors at the Brent Indian and Learie Constantine sites in Dudden Hill Lane, Willesden, on the 5^th of October.

One for the community of Brent

The Brent Indian project will see £15.64 million invested in a brand-new community centre alongside 29 affordable homes which include three wheelchair-accessible homes and 26 family-sized apartments of up to three bedrooms from the ground floor up to the fourth floor. The development project will also include a large multi-purpose hall, a commercial kitchen, offices, and an IT training room.

Norman Mullings, chair of the Learie Constantine Centre, said: “The Constantine Centre dates back to 1971. It is a place where people from the Black community have been able to come and organise themselves for the benefit of all. After 25 years, I feel very glad that this new building is finally happening. It has been a long story. We hope that when we are no longer here, this will be a lasting legacy for the Black community.”

Cllr Promise Knight, Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Renters’ Security, said: “Today we can celebrate the beginning of another 55 affordable homes in the making for Brent residents. We believe in creating a fairer and more equal borough for all residents, and decent, affordable housing is essential to that delivery.”

A celebratory event

Residents and councillors also celebrated work kicking off on a second community centre and 26 new affordable homes further down Dudden Hill Lane. The £12.5 million Learie Constantine Community Centre project will also see the construction of a new building with a community centre on the ground floor, along with 26 one, two, and three-bedroom apartments above it.

The construction company, Willmott Dixon, is to deliver £28 million venture.