Harrow Council's Planning Committee has approved plans for a new temple building at 2d Nibthwaite Road and 61a Station Road, despite initial concerns raised by the council's drainage and infrastructure officer regarding a watercourse running beneath the site. The decision, made at a meeting on Thursday, 28 May 2026, grants permission for the demolition of the existing temple building, a former warehouse described as being in a poor state of repair, and its replacement with a new, purpose-built structure.
The new building will largely mirror the existing footprint but will be substantially taller. The proposed building would be 6.3 meters high, with a central column reaching approximately 9.4 meters. A Daylight and Sunlight Assessment submitted as part of the application demonstrated that the increased height would not adversely impact light and outlook on neighbouring dwellings on Nipwa Road, given the intervening distances.
An initial objection from the Drainage and Infrastructure Officer cited insufficient information and the need for repairs to the watercourse, which is in disrepair. Councillor Peymana Assad sought clarification on this 'water pipe issue'. The matter concerns an existing watercourse running beneath the site that requires repairs. While the applicant and the council's Drainage Authority are discussing the necessary Land Drainage Consent separately from the planning consent, the committee took a pragmatic approach. Planning permission was granted with a condition requiring details of the culvert repair to be submitted and approved before construction begins. This condition is in addition to the applicant still needing to secure land drainage consent separately.
Councillor Assad also inquired about disabled parking, and the proposal includes two disabled parking bays. The expected maximum capacity of the new temple is 150 people, and the anticipated community benefit is the improvement of the existing facility, which was deemed policy compliant.
Councillor Mike Williams questioned the scale and ambition of the development in relation to neighbouring properties. The committee ultimately approved the application, noting it would improve the existing facility and was policy compliant. Further details on the planning application can be found in the Public reports pack for the Planning Committee meeting.