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by Sean Hill on Oct 14, 2025
This week we joined fellow architects, planners, and development officers at the Brent Agents Forum — and it turned out to be one of the most constructive, energising planning discussions we’ve experienced in years.
For two hours inside Brent Civic Centre, the Planning and Development team set aside hierarchy and red tape to do something refreshingly simple yet transformative: listen. It was a conversation grounded in mutual respect — not just between planners and agents, but between people who genuinely care about the quality of the built environment.
Representatives from both the North Team (Colin Leadbeatter and Sean Newton) and the South Team (Damian Manhertz and Andrew Neidhardt) were joined by Vanraj Raj from Technical Support. Each brought openness, generosity, and transparency to the discussion — qualities that define a planning department ready to evolve.
Red Arches House on Hazel Road, Kensal Green — a contemporary infill dwelling by RISE Design Studio that demonstrates Brent’s design-led approach to small urban sites.
A Planning Department in Step with Design-Led Practice
What stood out most was Brent’s willingness to take on board real feedback from the architects who work in their borough every day. There was an honesty in the room — an acknowledgement that some aspects of the system haven’t always served design quality. The days of “cookie-cutter” pre-app responses or rigid interpretations of the SPD seem to be fading. In their place, Brent is inviting a more collaborative, case-by-case approach.
We explored the idea of “justified alternatives” within the Residential Extensions and Alterations SPD — the principle that designs can depart from the guidelines when there’s a clear, site-specific rationale. Brent’s planners encouraged us to push boundaries, to back our reasoning with strong evidence, and to use the Pre-Application Service proactively to test ideas before formal submission.
They also spoke candidly about the delicate balance they must strike between giving helpful guidance and avoiding predetermination. By law, planners can’t guarantee an outcome — but Brent’s officers made clear that they want to provide balanced, constructive feedback that helps well-considered projects move forward with confidence.
More Depth, Less Duplication
It was encouraging to hear that Brent’s planning service now benefits from better resources and more manageable caseloads, giving officers time to look at proposals with greater depth. The shift is subtle but significant — from assessing applications strictly against the letter of the SPD to considering what makes genuinely good spaces for people.
Discussions ranged from L-shaped extensions and backland infill to the wider housing challenge facing suburban Brent. The planners recognised that these smaller, context-sensitive schemes — a handful of flats replacing a single house, or an infill home between terraces — are essential to meeting local housing needs. And while such projects can sometimes be contentious, especially at committee stage, the officers’ message was clear: Brent wants to champion good design wherever it happens, even when it challenges convention.
Learning from Live Projects: Hazel Road as a Case Study
We shared our experience with Red Arches House on Hazel Road in Kensal Green — a contemporary 163 sqm infill home that transforms an underused side garden into a highly sustainable family dwelling.
Through early and open dialogue with Brent’s officers, we refined everything from overlooking distances and daylight studies to the relationship between the home’s sunken front garden, red stock brick façade, and zinc roofline. The result was a design that respects the rhythm of its street while bringing something fresh — a car-free, low-energy home that quietly contributes to London’s housing targets.
The officers recognised Red Arches House as a good example of how “justified alternatives” work in practice: a project that doesn’t fit neatly within old diagrams but succeeds through thoughtful design, evidence-led justification, and collaboration at every step.
Progressive Thinking on Small Sites and Biodiversity
The conversation also looked ahead — specifically, a review of SPD1: Brent Design Guide so it better reflects contemporary design thinking. Officers spoke about shifting from guidance that says “what not to do” toward defining what makes good places, and about exploring a small-sites approach/potential guidance to unlock sensitive suburban intensification.
We also discussed Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) at small scales. Brent clarified that while developers must use registered BNG providers, they don’t need to be on a Council-approved list — a pragmatic stance that simplifies smaller schemes. This sort of proportional, sensible policy thinking ran through the whole session.
The Human Side of Planning
Perhaps the most refreshing part of the forum was the tone. Officers spoke candidly about the realities of their roles — the pressures of committee politics, shifting policy contexts, and the challenge of managing community expectations. There was a shared understanding that good design doesn’t emerge in isolation; it depends on dialogue, clarity, and mutual trust between architects and planners.
We heard examples — both successful and challenging — from colleagues around the table, including Preston Road, where a strong design scheme was recommended for approval but later overturned at committee. These discussions reinforced the value of early, transparent pre-application dialogue to strengthen design justification from the outset.
A Collaborative Way Forward
As a studio that has delivered projects such as The Lexi Cinema and multiple low-energy homes across Brent, we left the forum feeling optimistic. The event reinforced what we’ve always believed: good planning is a partnership, not a process of regulation versus design.
Brent’s willingness to evolve — to learn from architects on the ground and to adapt its internal processes for better outcomes — reflects a truly forward-thinking department. There was a shared energy in the room: a sense that Brent’s officers and local architects are aligned in their desire to create better places, not just compliant ones.
Building Better Together
Our thanks to David Glover, Victoria McDonagh, Damian Manhertz, Andrew Neidhardt, Colin Leadbeatter, Sean Newton, and Vanraj Raj for creating such a collaborative, thoughtful space.
Our takeaway: Brent isn’t simply approving buildings; it’s helping to shape a shared vision for better living environments — one discussion, one pre-app, and one project at a time.
At RISE Design Studio, we’re committed to keeping this conversation alive — testing ideas, pushing for excellence, and helping shape a borough that leads by example in sustainable, contextual architecture.
Building for the Future
At RISE, we believe great planning isn’t just about securing permission. It’s about crafting places that set a new benchmark—projects that answer to both context and imagination. Bold enough to push standards; humble enough to belong. From sensitive infill like Hazel Road to cultural anchors like The Lexi Cinema, our goal is simple: better spaces, lower energy, stronger communities.
Thinking about a project in Brent—householder, small site, or infill?
Let’s talk about how your scheme can move from guidance to design-led, evidence-backed approval—and give something back in return.
→ Email us at architects@risedesignstudio.co.uk
→ Or call the studio on 020 3947 5886
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