The pub has been closed since 2024
Developers have put forward plans to demolish the Masons Arms pub in Kensal Green and redevelop the site to include a new pub with 26 flats above. London based developer LJ Developments have submitted plans to Brent Council seeking to build a new six-storey building by demolishing the Masons Arms pub on Harrow Road.
The public house, which was built in the mid-1800s, closed permanently in 2024. The developer aims to “sensitively re-develop” the pub on the ground floor, whilst providing 26 flats spread across five floors above. It claims the project would bring “social and economic benefits” to the area by broadening its appeal to both locals and visitors.
The site currently comprises the now closed pub and an adjacent vacant plot. The developers claim the plans aim to “preserve the spirit” of the traditional pub but it will be reimagined as a “modern, multipurpose venue”.
It claims the new pub will “combine traditional character with modern standards of accessibility and sustainability”. The bar and dining room would offer food and drink throughout the day, whilst there would also be a “second space” that could be used for coffees, dining, remote work, or socialising.
If approved, the building would also include the above flats, comprising nine one-bedroom apartments, nine two-beds, and eight three-beds. All of them would have private balconies facing south towards the nearby Kensal Green Cemetery.
The developer notes: “At 665 Harrow Road, LJ Developments aim to bring forward a thoughtful, deliverable scheme that revitalises the site, supports the long-term viability of the re-provided pub, and contributes positively to Brent’s wider housing and placemaking objectives.
However, the scheme appears unlikely to contribute anything towards the borough’s affordable housing numbers. Documents filed alongside the plans point towards a financial viability assessment which determined that the proposed development results in a deficit of £1.2m – even if no affordable housing is provided.
The document states: “Nevertheless, the applicant is fully committed to the delivery of the proposed development and is willing to enter discussions with officers during the course of the application in relation to affordable housing.”
The scheme will be reviewed by Brent Council’s planning committee in due course, which will then determine whether or not it will be given the go ahead.
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