View Looking East Along Hazel Road
What is Making The Leap’s history with Harriet Tubman House?
Making The Leap, known then as LEAP, moved into Kensal Green in 2002 from Harlesden. We took on a dilapidated building, the former Kensal Green Community Centre, and undertook a major transformation, gutting and renovating the interior while retaining the external shell, turning it into a dedicated training centre for our charity. We also rebuilt the adjoining structure, creating a new community centre for local residents. This project was made possible through dedicated fundraising efforts from 2001-2002, allowing us to invest £1.25 million to purchase the property from Brent Council, fully renovate the inside, and create a valuable community space that has served the area for over 20 years. We named the buildings Harriet Tubman House and the Hazel Road Community Centre.
We own Harriet Tubman House and have a 125-year lease for the Hazel Road Community Centre. At a time when the local demographic was from marginalised communities, once we opened both centres, we not only supported local unemployed adults into work but also delivered free, weekly community activities including a youth club, drama classes, street dance classes for children and IT classes for local residents of all ages, funded from our own resources. Now, 20 years on, we want to provide something for generations to come.
This much-needed redevelopment will replace Making The Leap’s existing centre and the Hazel Road Community Centre, creating a modern, dynamic space that will benefit young people, local residents and community groups for years to come.
Why do Making The Leap want a new building?
The existing training centre has reached capacity, limiting our ability to support more young people. The new Making The Leap centre will enable us to expand our work with local secondary schools and young adults, providing vital opportunities for those from less-advantaged socio-economic backgrounds. In addition, 85% of the young people we serve come from racially-minoritised backgrounds. The new centre will allow us to reach even more young people, equipping them with the skills, confidence, and ambition they need to succeed in education, their careers, and beyond.
Is Harriet Tubman House currently a listed building?
No.
What have Making The Leap done to upkeep the current building?
The current centre is tired, outdated and increasingly costly to maintain. While we have continued to invest in its upkeep – we initially invested £1.25 million, and currently spend roughly £10,000 per year on maintenance – the ageing structure means that ongoing repairs are no longer financially viable. A modern centre will not only provide a high-quality environment for young people to learn and grow, preparing them for the professional working world, but will also ensure that our resources are directed towards delivering impactful programmes rather than maintaining an ageing building.
With open, timber-lined interiors, the centre will create an inspiring space that promotes social interaction, enhances well-being, and uplifts the experience of young people.
What thought has been put behind the external look of the building?
Harriet Tubman House has always been a very unique and distinct building in its use, appearance and parkland setting in what is a largely residential neighbourhood of brick terraced houses. The new building will continue to be a unique and singular building with subtle references to its context through its form and materiality. Conceived as a ‘villa in the park’, the stone-coloured base and beige upper levels and the buildings proportions are reminiscent of period buildings and villas throughout London. The beige colour of the building also not only reflects the predominant tone of the London Stock brick found in the surrounding terraced housing but also sits well with the hues and colours found in the park. Elegance in detailing and proportion will further assist in the proposal’s difference in scale to adjacent residential context.
How much taller is the new centre compared to the current one?
Despite the building being 4.45m taller than the highest point of the current roof pitch, the third floor is set back as a response to the residential context, meaning that the building line read from Hazel Road is only 87cm higher than the existing building.
How will neighbouring properties maintain privacy from the new building?
For the external terrace, overlooking concerns have been mitigated through the detailing of the balustrade at Level 03. Balustrades have been angled 30 degrees to obstruct views out to residential properties, and the overall height increased to 1500mm to further restrict views.
The new proposal reflects the same relationship to the street as Harriet Tubman House, and therefore retains the same distances away from neighbouring properties. Windows will be fitted with internal blinds to restrict views in and out. Privacy and overlooking will also be mitigated by the building’s activity hours, which will remain primarily during the day only.
Will the new building increase locals’ access to the community centre?
Unlike the current community centre, which has limited accessibility, the new building has the community in mind by providing five fully accessible spaces available for hire by local residents, groups or organisations, complete with cycling facilities for visitors. Whether you’re looking to host events, run community activities, or bring people together, the centre will be a welcoming hub for everyone in Kensal Green.
What is Making The Leap’s connection to Kensal Green and Brent?
We are proud to have been based in Kensal Green since 2002 and to have served the local community as a Brent-based charity, based originally in Harlesden, since our founding by Brent residents in 1993. Our commitment to supporting the area remains at the heart of our organisation. Making The Leap is also proud to have Brent-based staff and volunteers, as well as those who live in the surrounding local area of Kensal Green.
We named the existing building after Harriet Tubman, the abolitionist and social activist; as a local, Black-led organisation, this name reflects the support we provide to those from marginalised communities to progress in their careers, with our Founders having been in the same position. The new centre will build on this important history as we continue to support those who need it most, staying true to our roots in Brent and Kensal Green.
How else will the local community benefit from the new building?
Beyond our youth-focused programmes, Making The Leap will launch new skills development activities for Kensal Green residents from our centre with focus on those from low-income households, less-advantaged backgrounds, and ethnic minority communities. From digital literacy workshops, after school activities, to providing warm spaces, we’re committed to empowering the local community. These sessions will support residents to upskill, encourage knowledge-sharing, promote youth engagement, combat elderly isolation, and build stronger connections between age groups. By addressing diverse needs, our centre will be a true community asset that helps bridge social divides.
Will the new facility be open to schools to utilise?
The centre’s facilities will be available to local primary and secondary schools for events and activities. Our centre will serve as an additional resource for local schools, particularly supporting students from less-advantaged backgrounds by increasing their access to opportunities and resources. Building on our existing partnerships with local secondary schools, we aim to enrich the learning experience for young people in our community and help schools deliver enhanced programmes in a modern, inspiring environment.
Will the new facility help reduce anti-social behaviour in the area?
By improving the outlook onto Hazel Road, we hope to create a safer, more inviting space that discourages antisocial behaviour. The new centre will also provide enhanced security measures, including improved lighting and increased visibility, contributing to a safer local environment.
CCTV around the building will be enhanced, and the ‘dead zone’ towards the rear of the current building, which currently provides anonymity for anti-social behaviour, will see improved natural surveillance via the full height glazing design.
The building will also be manned by a receptionist from Monday to Friday.
Will the new facility have a positive impact on the play area in Hazel Road green space?
The redevelopment aims to uplift the immediate local area. Residents and families using the nearby play park and the Hazel Road green space will benefit from a more welcoming area.
Around the building, there will be increased planting to create a more pleasant feel. The green space to the left of the building, which will house construction materials during the build, will be regenerated after construction. Making The Leap intend to work with Brent council to not only return that space back to its previous status, but to enhance it.
Will the play park be closed during construction?
No – the park will remain open.
How long will construction take?
We anticipate the build to take 18 months. The modular and lightweight methods of construction are intended to reduce build time and minimise disruption.
How sustainable and green is the new building?
Plans include introducing more greenery and planting at both street and roof levels, enhancing biodiversity in the area. This commitment to sustainability, combined with our centre’s continued proximity to Kensal Green Station, a two-minute walk away, means that visitors can easily reach us without needing a car.
Designed with sustainability at its core, the new building will feature a timber frame and low-emission materials, significantly improving energy efficiency compared to our existing, ageing facility. This eco-friendly approach will reduce our carbon footprint and create a healthier and more sustainable space for the local community. The new centre will incorporate energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, reducing overall energy consumption.
Will the building increase traffic in the area?
A very small number (2 of 23) of current employees drive to the centre, while our proximity to Kensal Green station means the young people we host very rarely, if ever, drive to the centre.
Though we foresee increased community use, the intention is for this to come from those in the immediate vicinity, and therefore do not anticipate an increase in vehicle use. Additionally, cycling bays will be fitted into the building to give both employers and young people the option to cycle to the centre.
How will the building help the local economy?
The redevelopment will bring new employment opportunities for local people, both during the construction phase and through the ongoing operation of the centre. With expanded facilities and programming, we aim to create more roles for staff and volunteers, ensuring that the centre remains a thriving hub for the community. Additionally, staff, visitors and young people attending programmes at the centre will contribute to the local economy by visiting nearby shops during the working day, particularly along Harrow Road. Currently, staff, volunteers and young people collectively spend around £1500 a month in local shops, cafes and restaurants. With our increased reach through the new centre, this positive impact will increase.
We believe this new centre represents an exciting step forward for both the Making The Leap charity and wider Kensal Green community. We look forward to creating a space where young people can thrive, community groups can flourish, and local residents can connect with one another in a modern, sustainable environment.
