Campaigners are battling plans to build 16 new social rent homes on a much-loved community garden, warning that an important green space in the heart of northwest London will be lost forever.

The Granville Recreation Ground in South Kilburn has become a focal point for residents, schools and volunteers since being restored from an overgrown and neglected former playground.

But the site forms part of approved plans for the Hereford House and Exeter Court development, a scheme within Brent Council's wider South Kilburn regeneration programme that is due to begin in 2027.

Campaigners say the garden's mature planting, food-growing spaces and community-led ethos cannot be recreated elsewhere.

The recreation ground originally opened in 2009 as a replacement for green space lost during earlier redevelopment. However, a lack of funding left it overgrown until Granville Community Kitchen stepped in and transformed the area.

Today, four schools regularly use the site to teach children about growing food and nature, including St Marylebone CE Bridge School, which supports pupils with special educational needs.

Leslie Barson, co-founder of Granville Community Kitchen, believes the proposed replacement park fails to reflect what already exists.

“In this climate emergency, of course we need green spaces,” she said.

“In this particular setting, green spaces are particularly vital, as people are living on top of each other.

“This space brings people together and supports them on so many different levels all at once almost.”

She described the proposed replacement as a poor substitute for the existing site.

“The old growth, it can't be replaced,” she said. “What they are proposing is just laughable as a replacement for this space.”

Despite opposing the plans, Ms Barson stressed that campaigners are not against new housing, instead arguing it should not come at the expense of much-loved green spaces already serving local people.

Volunteer grower Alfie Stanford said the garden offered opportunities that are not available in everyday public parks.

“A green space is so beneficial to people's wellbeing,” he said.

“It’s so important not just to have a space that you can be in, but you can actually engage in and react with.

“People come and engage as much as they want. They can come up with their own ideas and do things they can't do in a public park.”

Campaigners say the site is irreplaceable and intend to continue fighting the proposals.

Brent Council argues the plans strike a balance between housing need and public space.

A spokesperson said the development would deliver 16 “urgently needed” four and five-bedroom social rent homes for existing South Kilburn tenants, alongside a larger replacement park of around 2,500 square metres.

The authority said the new park would include extensive planting, play areas, picnic facilities and public seating.

The council added that Ballymore, the new development partner for the regeneration programme, would continue working with residents and community groups as plans progress.