Historic black cultural hub denied heritage status

A community centre credited with stopping race riots in north-west London in the 1980s is facing demolition after a bid for it to be granted heritage protection was rejected.

Harlesden People's Community Council (HPCC) launched a public campaign last year for Bridge Park Community Centre in Harlesden to be recognised as a national heritage site.

Historic England, a public body responsible for preserving and celebrating England's historic environment, has decided to not add the centre to the national list of protected buildings.

Last year, Brent Council said it was looking to redevelop Hillside Corridor, which the community centre is a part of, as part of a £600m investment.

The site has resonance for campaigners who say destroying it would eradicate black British history.

It became the largest black‑led community enterprise in Europe, founded after the Brixton race riots 1981 to empower the black community and to prevent further race riots.

HPCC said it would submit a formal challenge.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), the group said: "Historic England's decision not to list Bridge Park ignores its historic and symbolic importance, privileging architectural merit over the rich story embedded in the building's fabric.

"It raises serious concerns that black, community-led histories like Bridge Park are being undervalued, despite clear precedent for protecting modest or utilitarian buildings on the basis of their historic significance alone."

But Brent Council said it "welcomed the decision", which "removed a barrier that risked further delays" to the area's redevelopment. It wants to knock down the centre, built in a disused bus depot, and replace it with 1,000 homes, retail space, a hotel and new community hub.

It has said the site had been partially derelict for 15 years and would cost too much to renovate.

The local authority added the leisure centre, which closed in July 2025, had "reached the end of its usable life" and the building "no longer meets modern standards for accessibility, safety, or flexibility".

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