Hundreds of homeless families could be housed in a new tower block after a site was bought by a north London council.

Brent Council has confirmed it will purchase land in Edgware Road, Colindale, which will be redeveloped and used for temporary accommodation. 

The new building, which will be up to 18 storeys high, will have 110 flats, alongside five retail units, which will either be rented out on a short-term basis or sold with 125 year leases. 

Housing lead councillor Eleanor Southwood said this was an opportunity the council could not pass up on as it will help “get people off the housing waiting list”.

The flats, situated by the junction with Grove Park on the A5 Barnet border, will be offered up under local housing allowance, which for Brent is currently between £115 and £379 a month. 

The cost of the purchase was not revealed under the Local Government Act 1972 but, according to a Brent Council report, it is deemed to be financially viable. 

When plans were formally approved, it was initially set to be offered up for general sale. 

As part of this initial agreement, just 14 homes (13 per cent) were deemed affordable, which were to be advertised as shared ownership. 

Despite being approved by Brent Council, it was met with some opposition, with residents criticising the size of the building and the impact it will have on the surrounding area. 

They suggested the new development will increase the impact on parking and traffic congestion on and around the A5. 

They added it would put a strain on local infrastructure, particularly on the schools and GP surgeries in the area. 

And they felt the lack of affordable housing meant the development would not serve local people or help address the borough’s housing crisis. 

This final point has been addressed by the council’s purchase, with all units set to help those in need of accommodation.