Huge complex to transform Wembley

The plans include 3,700 new homes, a new cinema, hotel and offices

Plans for a 42-acre housing and leisure complex around the new Wembley Stadium site have won council approval.

Developers say the new complex would be the size of Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden and all the land in-between.

Brent Council says the plans offer the chance to transform an area which has been in decline.

But some locals fear the area will not be able to cope with thousands of new residents.

The outline plan from Quintain Estates and Development covers 5.3 million square feet of space around the new stadium site in north-west London.

It includes 3,700 new homes, a cinema complex, leisure facilities, shops, hotels and offices.

Wembley Park Boulevard, lined with bars, restaurants and cafes, would be the same size as Regent Street.

Developers describe it as the biggest transformation Wembley has seen since the 1920s.

The development area will surround the new stadium

But some residents are alarmed at the size of the development, and other proposals which have been submitted as work continues on the stadium.

Stephen Games is secretary of one of the residents' associations which have joined forces because of concern about developments.

The Brent Residents' Forum estimates new developments will bring in about 8,000 more people, including children, and fears roads, schools and doctors' surgeries will not be able to cope.

Mr Games told BBC News Online: "Wembley is a very crowded suburb. The roads are 90% saturated and that's without the stadium and phase one of the Quintain scheme.

"Because there is so much interest in the new stadium, lots and lots of other developers are lining up with their applications.

"It seems like what they want to do is turn Wembley into north London's Croydon - an area of high-rise and dense buildings."

'Biggest regeneration' for 100 years

But Brent Council leader Ann Jones said developments planned would create a "world-class setting" for the stadium and bring huge benefits for local people.

She told BBC News Online: "People in Brent need houses to live in. In common with many other parts of London, we have a housing shortage."

"Now the stadium is nearing completion there's economic confidence and development has started to take off in an area which has been under-developed for a long time.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime golden opportunity, the biggest regeneration in this part of London for more than 100 years."

Brent Council says it granted the scheme outline planning permission on Thursday after securing £20 million for local facilities such as school places, health centre and transport improvements.