Councillors from across the political divide in Brent have joined forces to oppose the sale of a 42-acre golf course, warning that the borough could lose a vital green space for good.
The Labour administration approved plans to sell its freehold interest in Northwick Golf Course, despite receiving 205 objections and challenges from all other parties on the council.
The decision to dispose of the parcel of land was approved on February 9, 2026, and residents and other concerned parties were invited to share their views on the sale. The site is occupied by Playgolf (Northwick Park) Limited under a 99-year lease, but following the October 12 sale, concerns have grown that the community could lose the space.
One of the main worries among objecting councillors is that the sale could open the site up to developers, with speculation that the land may be used for future building.
Leader of the Conservative group, Cllr Suresh Kansagra, said the decision was not right for Brent, arguing it would mean a lost opportunity for long-term income. He has urged the Labour administration to reconsider, given the value the site provides to the local community.
“The council should be able to demonstrate clearly why selling is better than keeping an income-producing asset with long-term value. We do not believe that case has yet been made,” he said.
Cllr Anton Georgiou, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, warned that the decision could allow developers to build on the land in future, and called for a more extensive consultation with residents.
“The interest of our community isn’t typically the primary concern of developers and there is a risk that this decision will allow the expansion of high-density tower blocks into the area. Residents deserve to have a say when these kinds of major changes are proposed on their doorstep,” he said.
The leader of the Brent Green Group, Mary Mitchell, echoed those calls, arguing that the land is far more “than a commercial asset” and that the green space is pivotal to local wildlife and residents’ wellbeing.
She said the proposed freehold sale removes a layer of protection and that once “public land is sold, it is extraordinarily difficult to recover”.
“Residents are right to ask why Brent would relinquish control of such a significant environmental and public health asset at a time when access to green space, biodiversity recovery and climate resilience are more important than ever. We should be protecting this space, not putting its future at risk,” she said.
Brent Council has defended the decision. A spokesperson said: “As part of the council’s wider property strategy, cabinet approved a paper in February 2026 which included the proposed sale of the Northwick Park Golf Course freehold.”
“Selling sites which are vacant, costly to maintain, or no longer aligned with residents’ priorities means that funding can be better reinvested in other projects across Brent.”
The council added that the sale “will not affect the existing public right of way, which is legally protected, nor its designation as Metropolitan Open Land by both the Mayor’s London Plan and Brent’s Local Plan”.
“Any future proposals for developing the site will be subject to statutory planning processes, which includes an opportunity for residents to submit their views before any final decision is taken,” the spokesperson said.
The opposition groups also argue that the council has yet to demonstrate why selling the income-generating site is financially viable rather than keeping it, and they want the administration to show its workings before the disposal goes any further.
