Annual General Meeting 2026
The next AGM will be held on Monday 18th May at 7pm at Emmanuel Church, 389E Harrow Road, London W9 3NA.
We will be discussing our activities, our plans for the coming months, and what the new Neighbourhood Plan means for residents and businesses. We’ll also hear from Paddington Arts and Flamboyan on the “past, present and future of arts and culture in Maida Hill”, and review our Forum’s constitution.
Moving to the Referendum stage for the Neighbourhood Plan
After successful endorsement by an Independent Examiner, the Neighbourhood Plan is due to move to its final stage before becoming active, which is seeking approval from Maida Hill at a Referendum. For a two page review of the Plan click here.
For the full copy of the Neighbourhood Plan click here.
2025 Annual General Meeting for Maida Hill Neighbourhood Forum
The Forum held its AGM for 2025 on Wednesday 18th June at 7pm at Emmanuel Church, 389E Harrow Road, London W9 3NA. Speakers included a representative from Westminster City Council on community empowerment, and a lively discussion followed. Many thanks to all speakers and attendees.
Neighbourhood Plan for Maida Hill – independent examination stage
The Forum has recently submitted a proposed Neighbourhood Plan to Westminster City Council and an Independent Examiner. The Examiner is now assessing the document for validity, and we expect to hear shortly as to whether it can go forward to the Referendum stage, or whether further processes are required.
Neighbourhood Plan for Maida Hill – consultation
The Forum has recently submitted a proposed Neighbourhood Plan to Westminster City Council, and the Council is now seeking views. Its consultation is focussed on whether the process of drawing up the Plan has been fair, and whether the Plan is in line with council, London, and central government strategies.
The draft covers various aspects of land development and land use up to 2040, including shops and new buildings, public spaces and the environment, tailored to Maida Hill needs. After a local referendum, the Plan will become part of the council’s statutory development plan if adopted.
If you would like to respond to the council, you can find out more at https://www.westminster.gov.uk/planning-building-control-and-environmental-regulations/planning-policy/neighbourhood-areas-forums-and-plans/maida-hill-neighbourhood-plan .
Comments should be sent to neighbourhoodplanning@westminster.gov.uk by 5 pm on 11th November 2024.
Opening of Ernest Harriss House community centre
Westminster City Council are launching a community hub at Ernest Harriss House, in Elgin Avenue. It will serve residents in the immediate local area and across North Paddington, including the Harrow Road (Maida Hill) and Westbourne wards.
The council claim “Ernest Harriss House Community Hub has been co-designed through direct engagement with local residents and partners. This process has identified priorities it should respond to, the activities and services it should provided, how the space is designed, and what type of organisation should run it”. They are now looking for “a creative, resourceful, mission-driven and collaborative organisation” to operate Ernest Harriss House Community Hub from January 2025 to December 2029, through a grant award process of up to £110k per annum. (Source: https://www.westminster.gov.uk/leisure-libraries-and-community/grant-funding-opportunities/ernest-harriss-house-community-hub-operator-funding-application-process)
Funding approved for next phase of North Paddington Programme (July 2024)
A refurbished children’s centre and extra community gardens have been signed off as part of a scheme aimed at supporting some of Westminster’s most disadvantaged communities. The four-year North Paddington Programme, which focuses on the Westbourne, Harrow Road (Maida Hill) and Queen’s Park wards, is intended to deliver improvements across areas including employment opportunities, green spaces and the quality of the high streets.
Approved in February 2023 with a total budget of £20m, the programme’s first year involved investments in schemes such as youth centres and introducing a council office on Harrow Road. Other initiatives included retrofitting 300 social homes to improve energy efficiency and rolling out a Digital Dash programme, which mentored 20 young people in technology.
The next phase, covering years two to four, was given the green light at the 15th July 2024 Westminster City Council Cabinet meeting. Costed at around £10m, the projects approved include a £4.5m grants pot for local organisations to apply for funding, £1.5m for two community hubs (Bayswater Children’s Centre, which also serves as a housing drop-in centre, and Ernest Harris House), £320,000 towards Maida Hill Market, and £300,000 to deliver additional community gardens. Source: text taken from https://www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-news/north-paddington-programme-westminster-council-29550898)
