THE largest planning application in the history of north west London was given the green light by Barnet councillors tonight.

The £4.5bn Brent Cross Cricklewood regeneration, which will see the shopping centre expand by around 50 per cent and 7,500 new homes built was officially passed at tonight's planning meeting.

It is scheduled to take 25 years for all the phases of development, including a power and heat facility, three new schools and dozens of new offices, to be built.

Seven councillors voted for the plans while only one rejected them, while another abstained.

More soon.