Green Neighbourhoods full steam ahead

Brent Council’s Cabinet has given the green light to work together with residents and community groups to start delivering the next phase of the ambitious Green Neighbourhoods programme.

The seal of approval for the Green Neighbourhoods action plans is the culmination of an extensive engagement programme over the summer, engaging 2000 residents.

Residents in the two pilot areas of Church End and Roundwood, and Kingsbury, asked for enhanced green infrastructure and biodiversity; sustainable travel infrastructure; and recycling and re-use projects, alongside the need to address parallel issues such as anti-social behaviour and fly tipping more holistically.

There are 34 actions in the Church End and Roundwood Action plan and 28 actions in the Kingsbury action plan. The aim is to embed environmental sustainability at the heart of day-to-day life in these locations. The plans will be phased with an overall vision to be fully delivered within two years.

Key projects include:

• Area-wide feasibility study on the creation of new Green Corridors, linking active travel routes and green spaces
• 15 new Electric Vehicle Charge Points
• 9 permanent School Street schemes
• New biodiversity infrastructure in green spaces (such as Roe Green Park, Roundwood Park, St Mary’s Church, Willesden Cemetery)
• Expanded cargo bike trial scheme for businesses
• 6 Re-use and Repair Pop-Up Events at community locations
• Launch new Brent Environmental Network Community Action Group

Councillor Krupa Sheth, Cabinet Member for Environment said: “We are excited to work together with local communities to deliver projects to make neighbourhoods greener and eco-friendly. Climate change is on our doorstep and affects us all. We need to act now!

“Green Neighbourhoods are a focused way to make a difference and help us reach our net zero goal by 2030, and make Brent one of the greenest boroughs in London. We are also committed tackling climate inequality, and we are working with seldom heard communities to encourage more diverse participation in the Green Neighbourhoods programme.”