Contentious proposals to redevelop a community space passed another hurdle after they were approved by Brent Council’s planning committee.

It agreed to plans to build 23 social homes at the Carlton and Granville Centres in South Kilburn, alongside “improved” facilities at the site.

There has been an ongoing campaign to halt proceedings, with objectors concerned about a loss of community space as a result of the plans.

Pete Firmin, of the South Kilburn Residents’ Association, urged members to reject the application due to what he saw as a poorly conducted consultation.

He also bemoaned a “loss of 451 square metres of community space” and the fact that the site will, in part, change from a community centre to a business centre.

“There’s no evidence of support for this in the area,” he said. “It would remove the last real community centre in the area when we have an expanding population.”

He was supported by Leslie Barson, who works at the centres and said as much community space as possible should be retained in South Kilburn.

She appreciated the need for more social housing but argued that this should not come at the expense of facilities for the community to use.

“The population of South Kilburn is being doubled, so we need the community space to be doubled – people need places to come and learn and be together,” she said.

The application was supported by Lesley Benson, headteacher at Granville Plus Nursery School.

She praised plans to provide new social homes and pointed out that, in terms of its fabric, the buildings are in need of an update.

She added that the school is “absolutely determined to protect the community aspects of the site” and hopes to see the council honour this.