The redevelopment of two former college sites in Brent is set to start this spring after contracts were exchanged between developers and the land owner.
The College of North West London (CNWL) campuses in Dollis Hill and Wembley will be demolished to make way for more than 1,900 new homes.
Dollis Hill Wembley LLP – a joint venture between developers The Hill Group and investment firm Pinnacle Investments – has now completed the acquisition of the two sites from United Colleges Group (UCG) meaning the first phase of the project is expected to start within a matter of weeks.
The redevelopment of the two sites is necessary to fund the construction of a new CNWL campus, which will be built on Olympic Way in Wembley following the merger of CNWL and City of Westminster College. Together, the two projects will deliver 1,934 homes – which will include 154 social rent homes delivered by housing association Sovereign Network Group (SNG).
Concerns were raised about the number of affordable homes when plans were first approved by Brent Council’s Planning Committee. During the presentation of the Dudden Hill development back in December 2024, Cllr Liz Dixon expressed disappointment at the overall contribution.
She said at the time: “Our biggest challenge is social housing and affordable housing so people can continue to work and live in the borough. I’m very disappointed that we’ve got such a low contribution to affordable homes when our target is 50 per cent.”
The Dudden Hill site, located in Dollis Hill, currently consists of a number of three to five-storey buildings which were used by CNWL – a further education college. Its redevelopment will include the delivery of 1,627 new homes across a number of blocks ranging from four to 28 storeys.
The first phase will see the construction of build to rent and social rent homes, alongside properties for private sale. The redevelopment will also include a new community centre, nursery, gym, local shops, cafés, and co-working spaces, as well as a new public park. Two existing parks will be turned into children’s playgrounds.
The Wembley site, positioned at the start of Olympic Way leading up to the stadium, will comprise an 18-storey and 30-storey linked tower. The project will deliver 307 apartments, including 85 homes for social rent, alongside commercial and retail space on the ground floor.
Founder and Group Chief Executive of The Hill Group, Andy Hill, said: “Together, we are unlocking the potential of these sites to deliver much-needed homes in the capital, while transforming the area to develop new and enhanced public realm and provide essential community amenities that enable sustainable and thriving new neighbourhoods.”
As part of the scheme, SNG has exchanged contracts with The Hill Group to deliver the social rent homes across the two sites. The agreement means SNG will deliver 69 apartments across three buildings on a parcel of land on Dudden Hill Lane, with a further 85 apartments delivered within a single tower on Wembley Park Drive.
SNG’s Regional Managing Director for London and the East, Matt Bird, said: “With the support of the GLA (Greater London Authority), we’ve been able to secure hundreds of social rent homes and reaffirm our long‑term commitment to Brent. Both developments are in excellent locations, offering strong transport links and access to opportunity within thriving communities.”
The two schemes will enable the construction of a new purpose-built educational campus on Olympic Way, which will provide facilities that focus on green skills, engineering, and the built environment. UCG has described the acquisition completion as “a significant milestone” for the college.
Its CEO and Group Principal, Stephen Davis, said: “This new campus on Olympic Way will place students at the heart of one of London’s most iconic locations, providing modern facilities to support future skills in areas including construction, digital and green technologies, as well as a hospitality academy, in line with local and national priorities.”
