A row of disused garages will make way for four new town centre flats, despite “serious concerns” over parking.

Harrow Council’s planning committee narrowly approved proposals for a two-storey ‘L-shaped’ building in Elm Park, Stanmore.

It will replace a set of garages, which are currently unused, and incorporate a house which was converted into flats.

Opposition councillors expressed concerns over parking, despite the planning officers’ suggestion that these properties would not be attractive to drivers.

Cllr Marilyn Ashton, deputy leader of Harrow Conservatives and Stanmore Park representative, said: “The anxiety about [the lack of] parking at this development is real.

“The idea that this could be car-free is nonsense. There will be problems and there will be complaints.

“I can see why there have been objections, and we have to ask whether this is appropriate and whether this is feasible. We must listen to the people of Stanmore.”

She also dismissed the idea that this could be classed as a “town centre development” and said a section 106 agreement, to compensate for the lack of parking, “would not fix the problem”.

Cllr Stephen Greek, sitting on the planning committee, agreed and said it is already a “challenging” area for cars.

“There’s no way this can really work – they’re trying to squeeze in as much as they can,” he said.

“The idea that this will not cause problems with parking is ridiculous. You’ll just have people driving round trying to find a space, why not give it them in the first place?”

But Cllr Ghazanfar Ali said the development would create more much-needed homes in Harrow,

“These garages are not being used, and we need to provide homes for people – these flats will help,” he said.

The development was approved by four votes to three, with the majority Labour contingent pushing it through.