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Stonebridge
Stonebridge Estate 2007.jpg
Old and new developments of Stonebridge Estate, 2007
Stonebridge is located in Greater London
Stonebridge
Stonebridge
Population 16,903 (2011 Census. Ward)
OS grid reference TQ203839
London borough
Ceremonial county Greater London
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town LONDON
Postcode district NW10
Dialling code 020
Police Metropolitan
Fire London
Ambulance London
EU Parliament London
UK Parliament
  • Brent Central
London Assembly
  • Brent and Harrow
List of places
UK
England
London
51°32′28″N 0°15′50″W / 51.541184°N 0.263800°W / 51.541184; -0.263800

Stonebridge is a locality in the London Borough of Brent that forms the western part of Harlesden in Northwest London, England. The A404 runs through the district known locally as Brentfield and Hillside, while to the south are railway tracks and to the west is the North Circular Road along with Stonebridge Park station. The area is known for the previously troubled 1960s Stonebridge housing estate, which was completely redeveloped in the 2000s.

Stonebridge is also the name of the largest electoral ward in the borough, which includes Stonebridge itself as well as Park Royal and the southern half of Neasden including the St Raphael's Estate; it is the most populated ward in Brent with a population over 17,000 with the majority of Afro-Caribbean heritage.

History

The area was named after a stone bridge built (built in the later 17th century, when most bridges were of wood) over the River Brent to the north.

The exclusive Craven Park Estate of large houses was built in the 1860s and later, roughly at the same time as the Midland Railway constructed the Dudding Hill Line (now a freight line), which gave its new residents access to central London. However, the passenger service on the line closed for a second and final time in 1902, but only after a sustained protest campaign by local people.

Although other high-quality housing had grown up around the now-closed nearby Harlesden (Midland) railway station, the area failed to consolidate as an up-market suburb, because of the general expansion of London, increasing industry, and the building of low-quality, cheap housing, in the late nineteenth century. Sub-division of many of the large houses was carried out and Stonebridge became a low-income area, which continued after high-rise comprehensive redevelopment, mostly built in a single architectural style and called the 'Stonebridge Estate', in the 1960s and 1970s.

Some parts of Stonebridge have always been in private ownership, and not been part of the Stonebridge Estate.

Stonebridge demolition
Demolition of an old 8-storey building in 2007 (replacement housing is visible behind)

Built environment

Some improvements in the street scene happened in the early 1990s, as a result of the 'Harlesden City Challenge' award of government money to the area, which was by now regarded as one of the most troubled parts of London.

Most improvements, however, came after 2000, when comprehensive redevelopment of the 1960s and 1970s housing started. This is mainly complete by 2010, although some empty high-rise buildings were still being demolished.

A traditional street layout has been introduced, largely of two- and three-storey houses, often with four-story flats around street junctions.

The Stonebridge Estate has been redeveloped by Stonebridge Housing Action Trust, set up in 1994 under the Housing Act 1988, and with the aim

To transform the 1,775 home Stonebridge Estate by providing innovative solutions to the problems of social and economic deprivation faced by local residents.

It responded with various training and leisure initiatives, and modern, low-rise houses with some four-storey blocks of flats, mainly on street corners to give variety to the street scene.

In 2008, the redevelopment was awarded the European Urban and Regional Planning Award, under the category Public Participation in Planning, for the exemplary approach to public participation.

The Housing Action Trust was dissolved in 2007, and housing is now a mixture of housing association ownership (Hillside Housing Trust, part of the Hyde Group) and reversion to the London Borough of Brent. Tenants were given a choice about which ownership they preferred.

Winchelsea Road Streetscene
Winchlesea Road, Stonebridge. The trees on the left have been protected by a Tree Preservation Order

New development on Hillside, part of the A404 Harrow Road through the area, includes private ownership of flats above offices, and a health centre. Redevelopment has gone hand-in-hand with training and sports initiatives for local people.

A tree preservation order has been adopted by Brent Council on Winchelsea Road nearby, to protect the street scene, forcing new buildings to be set back from the road. The "exemplary approach to public participation" award quoted above may well have been justified regarding estate residents, but there were local media claims in 2007 that it was not true regarding neighbours, as evidenced by Brent Council's willingness to protect the Winchelsea Road trees.

Demography

Stonebridge has a large black population, the highest in the London Borough of Brent. The 2011 census showed that 47.2% of the population was black, up from 45.8% in 2001. Whites formed 23.5% of the population in the 2011 census, down from 33% in 2001. Christians and Muslims form 49.9% and 28.2% of the population respectively.

The majority of the population of Stonebridge are social renters, at 63.3%.

Transport

London Buses serving Stonebridge are:

Buses

Route Start End Operator
18 Euston Station Sudbury London United
112 Ealing Broadway North Finchley Bus Station Metroline
206 Wembley Park Kilburn Park Metroline
224 St Raphael's Estate Wembley Stadium London United
440 Wembley Park, Fourth Way Turnham Green Church London United
N18 Trafalgar Square Harrow Weald London United

Trains

Train Line Station Service
Bakerloo Line Stonebridge Park London Underground
Overground (Watford Junction - Euston) Stonebridge Park London Overground

Nearest places

Notable residents

  • K Koke

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