First published on Wednesday 27 June 2001: A 40-storey tower is the jewel in the crown of a £3billion development which aims to transform a run-down area of Cricklewood over the next decade.

Plans for 2,500 homes as well as offices, shops and a leisure park at Cricklewood Sidings, opposite Brent Cross shopping centre, were unveiled on Friday.

The 115-acre site, stretching from the sidings along Brent Terrace to Staples Corner and west to Whitefield Avenue, will be one of the largest brownfield sites in London.

However, Usama Siddique, chairman of the Barnet Traders' Association, said if approved the plans would set back town centres, including Hendon, Golders Green, Finchley and Barnet.

Mr Siddique said: "It will definitely affect the town centres, including Hendon, Golders Green, Finchley and Barnet.

"We have worked for ten years to regenerate our town centres and just as we are approaching a little bit of success it will put us back to where we started from. The thing about these shopping malls is that there is free parking and it is difficult to bring the people back to the town centres."

Developers say it will create more than 18,000 jobs and will take ten to 15 years to complete. Work could start as early as 2003 if plans are given the green light.

However, Mr Siddique did welcome the job creation that the development would bring: "These shopping centres are there just to take the money, however, it is creating 18,000 jobs so at least there will be some positive impact."

Jonathan Joseph, development manager of Cricklewood Redevelopment Ltd, denied it would sound the death knell for neighbouring town centres.

"It is one of the great myths of local planning that if you're a shopping street you should remain the same for ever," he said. "Everything changes and it's very often up to the high streets to respond and some respond beautifully.

"This has been designated as a regeneration area for 17 years and nothing has happened in that time. We're determined that the next 17 years shouldn't be like the last.

As part of the scheme, the landmark Holiday Inn hotel will be demolished to make way for a bridge connecting the proposed Cricklewood sidings development to Brent Cross shopping centre. More than two years in development, the scheme is a joint venture between Pillar Property Plc and Railtrack. This week more than 25,000 consultation leaflets are being sent to residents.

An outline planning application will come before councillors later this summer with more detailed plans being submitted later.

For further details, residents can call 0845 458 4511 during office hours or try links www.cricklewood.net

PEOPLE BEHIND THE PLANS

This is by far biggest the project undertaken by Jonathan Joseph, development manager of Cricklewood Redevelopment Ltd. He is also joint chairman of development company Bellhouse Joseph, which was behind a leisure and retail development with London Underground at Fulham Broadway station, and developed a £50million headquarters for British Telecom in Glasgow

Pillar Property Plc is the UK's largest retail park operator, managing 30 retail parks across the country, including Boulevard 25 in Borehamwood and the Waterfields Retail Park in Watford

The site is owned by Barnet Council, and Railtrack which has UK land and property assets worth £3billion