A SERIES of public exhibitions were displayed across the borough asking residents for their opinions on the future of the Kodak site.

Land Securities, the firm spearheading plans for the site's development, in Headstone Drive, was seeking residents' view on the future of the land.

The blueprint is at the heart of plans for the 57 acre site to transform Wealdstone by attracting development and bringing homes and jobs to the area.

More than 700 people attended exhibitions held in November last year and workshops in March this year.

Last week more than 800 people attended exhibitions held across Wealdstone including the Zoom Leisure Centre, Harrow and Wealdstone Railway Station and also in St Anns Shopping Centre in Harrow.

Stephen Neal, development director at Land Securities, said: “One of the key points to make to people is that this development is not just a big housing estate as we want to understand what the community wants.

“As it is still early days in the preparation of the plans for the Kodak site, we don’t know how much housing there will be yet on the site.

“However, the current masterplan has the potential to make a significant contribution towards the housing and employment targets identified for Harrow Council’s Area of Intensification.

“This area of intensification encompasses the Kodak site, as well as large parts of Wealdstone, Harrow town centre and the Station Road corridor and envisages the creation of 2,500 new homes across this whole area, along with 3,000 new jobs, in the period up to 2026.”

Regarding whether the company had a plan for a school in the area, Mr Neal said: “Harrow Council is studying the capacity of schools as part of its Area Action Plan for the borough. This will help determine future needs and prepare for them accordingly.

"The masterplan for the Kodak site has the potential to accommodate appropriate new educational facilities if this is felt to be the correct location for the borough.”

Mr Neal added the project on the site would take at least the next 15 years.

He added: “The fastest we can probably go now is we hope to gain planning permission from the council in the early part of next year and then start work in the early part of 2013 for the first phase.

“For now we are trying to be as interactive as possible and try and find out what can be achieved on the site.

“Whatever goes there needs to be knitted into the area. The London Plan recommends certain things such as a play area for children needs to be a certain distance away from where they live and we are working towards making a plan for a green space for the area.

"We’ve found this to be popular among residents and want to make sure we listen further to what people have to say.”

Harrow resident Ruth Stubbs, 55, works at Holy Trinity church, in Headstone Drive, Wealdstone. She said: “I believe the development won’t detract from small businesses on Wealdstone high street and will help them out.

“I was really interested in the work that is being done in the space that will have an amphitheatre and green area, which is really needed.”

Tim McCormack, 33, works for local government and lives in the Cunningham Park area. He said: “I’m broadly positive about it. Having sufficient open space is important but the overall balance of the sections mentioned for the site is the key thing.

“Employment is always going to be a pressure and concern so that’s important to consider.

“It could be that having this could price out people of the surrounding area. It could also be quite a happening, village-like type of place.

“It’s a lot to think about and a big project.”

Roman Apollo, 89, from Kenton, used to live in Harrow Weald and started worked at Kodak just after the Second World War in 1947. He said: “I think the plans are a very good idea. I worked there for 36 years after I was demobbed from the war after being in the Polish forces.

“I was lucky to get my job here being considered a foreigner but as Kodak didn’t have a union it was possible.

“I’m quite pleased with the plans. It’s a mixed development, with housing and will create jobs, and will change the area hopefully for the better.

“It is good to be able to ask questions and make comments now as this will shape what will happen with the site in the future.”

For more information on the plans log on to www.harrowview.info, call Land Securities’ community line on 0800 019 5878, or follow the latest news on twitter at @HarrowView