More of Wembley Stadium’s famous arch is set to be obstructed after Brent Council approved changes to part of the development around the ground.

The planning committee voted in favour of the “minor alterations” to various plots at the site, which will see some buildings increase in height by 21 metres.

It means more of the stadium will be blocked out when viewed from Wembley Park Station, while there will be changes to the overall landscape of the area.

Cllr Lia Colacicco voted against the proposals based on the new view of the arch and committee chairman Cllr James Denselow chose to abstain.

But developers Quintain, and planning officers from the council, convinced the other members of the redesign’s merits.

“It will facilitate and improved relationship with the surrounding buildings,” a spokesman for Quintain said.

“While the changes are minor in their nature, they come together to provide meaningful benefits to these plots.”

He added that the alterations will allow the creation of a new health centre for the area and said it is negotiating the details with the NHS.

The committee questioned whether it was possible to achieve such changes without the need to build upwards.

But David Glover, development management manager at Brent Council, explained that, while it could be done without pushing the height up, it was not deemed to be harmful overall.

He added that all planning aspects, including the impact on landmarks such as Wembley, were considered when the report was compiled.

And Alice Lester, head of planning, transport and licensing at Brent Council, pointed out that it was up to the committee to consider what should be prioritised.

She said: “The height is absolutely a material consideration, and the weight to be given to that consideration is down to the decision-maker.

“You can think it’s the most important thing in this scheme, and give it lots of weight, and decide whether the benefits and other aspects of the scheme outweigh what you might think is harmful.”