Brent to receive £40m Pride in Place funds

Cllr Butt and Dawn Butler MP

Harlesden and St Raphael’s Estate are set to receive a major £40 million investment over the next decade through the Government’s Pride in Place Programme.

The scheme will provide up to £2 million per area and is intended for areas facing high inequalities. In Brent, the funding is expected to support visible improvements, strengthen local pride, and deliver long-term change for residents.

Local people will play a central role through Neighbourhood Boards, working with Brent Council and local MPs to shape how the money is used. The announcement comes as Brent continues to face serious deprivation pressures, with analysis showing conditions have worsened relative to other parts of England since the pandemic. Some of the most acute need is concentrated in Stonebridge, Roundwood, and Harlesden and Kensal Green, while one Stonebridge neighbourhood is among the 1per cent most deprived areas in England and the most deprived in London.

Councillor Muhammed Butt said the investment is a landmark moment for Brent and stressed that tackling deprivation requires serious long-term funding. He said the programme could improve both the physical and social fabric of neighbourhoods and leave a lasting legacy for future generations. Dawn Butler MP welcomed the funding as long overdue for St Raphael’s Estate, saying sustained investment is needed to reverse years of deprivation and create better opportunities for residents. Georgia Gould MP also praised the announcement, highlighting Harlesden’s heritage, culture and community spirit, and said she looked forward to working with local people to ensure the investment has a lasting impact.

The funding arrives at a time when Brent sees new opportunities, including the West London Orbital, growth around Old Oak and Park Royal, and HS2 reshaping West London. Leaders say Harlesden and Stonebridge are well placed to benefit from that future.