Brent Council has granted planning permission for the demolition of the existing Matalan store on Cricklewood Broadway and the construction of two new blocks providing a total of 826 purpose-built student bed spaces.

Developer Ziser London secured consent by a narrow vote, with the council’s planning committee approving the plans five to three.

The development will comprise two buildings ranging from three to nine storeys.

  • Block A will feature 406 en-suite rooms, 40 studios, 46 accessible studios, and eight companion rooms.
  • Block B will offer 256 en-suite rooms, 30 studios, and 40 accessible studios.

Both buildings will also include ground-floor commercial space, adding to the vibrancy of the local area.

The site had previously been earmarked for 238 flats, but new building regulation requirements, including secondary staircases, prompted a redesign as student accommodation. The scheme will contribute the equivalent of around 300 homes towards Brent’s housing target.

Supporters of the project highlighted its role in regenerating a disused brownfield site and easing pressure on family housing by freeing up existing student-occupied homes. However, opponents, including local residents and several councillors, voiced concerns about the development’s scale and height, suggesting it is out of character with the surrounding area and that it represents a missed opportunity to provide more general housing.

Ziser London says the project will deliver high-quality, sustainable accommodation for students, helping meet the growing demand in London while revitalising a key site in Cricklewood.