A candidate standing in the upcoming local elections has argued that council plans to turn a car park into a block of flats is representative of its ambition to negatively transform Harrow.

Kuha Kumaran, who is running for a council position in West Harrow, said the plans in Vaughan Road car park are just a “money-making scheme” and that the council has not considered the public.

The decision to build a block of up to eight storeys was approved at a planning meeting in September.

Harrow Council noted that it had undertaken a thorough consultation and argued that the plans were favourably received by residents.

But Mr Kumaran holds a different opinion. He said that the consultation was rushed and, if the Conservatives are victorious in May, they will seek to overturn the proposals.

“This whole development has commercial as opposed to social interests at heart,” he said.

“The council realise that they can make money out of it but they want to squeeze as much as possible.

“People have been campaigning against it and they are very angry that a full and proper consultation didn’t take place.”

The council refutes this claim, noting that there was an “extensive consultation with local residents and all interested parties”.

The plans were questioned at the original meeting and a councillor opposed to them argued that they should be refused on the grounds that they were “too bulky” and offered “inadequate parking”.

Cllr Paul Osborn, leader of Harrow Conservatives, has also pointed out that, of the 33 proposed flats, just three will be affordable and there will be just six car parking spaces.

Harrow’s Labour Group, which has backed the development, intends to continue its support if re-elected in May.

The project is in its pre-construction stage and a contract for building is yet to be awarded.