PLANS to demolish a former library building in Cricklewood and erect a large block of flats have been withdrawn by the developer.

Developer Cricklewood Library Ltd’s application to knock down Cricklewood Library in Olive Road was recommended for refusal by Brent Council officers and was due to be discussed at a planning meeting on Wednesday.

However, the application was withdrawn by developer Andrew Gillick shortly before the meeting.

Mr Gillick declined to comment on why the application had been withdrawn.

The developer bought the property from All Soul’s College after it passed into their ownership when use as a library building ceased.

Bursar for All Soul’s College Thomas Seaman said Mr Gillick was the legal owner of the building and was bound by a contract to buy it on a certain date or face losing a large deposit.

Mr Seaman added that the date on which Mr Gillick would officially buy the property was confidential and the sale was not dependant on planning permission for the premises.

He said: “The deal is irrevocable, as far as we are concerned the deal is done.

“The deal hasn’t closed as we have a delayed closure but this will happen on a date in the future.

“The only way it wouldn’t go ahead is through force majeure, if the whole future changed, or the whole future changed in a way none of us had foreseen – such as nuclear war.”

Campaigners and Friends of Cricklewood Library objected to the construction of a new five-storey building of 10 flats with an open-plan community space on the ground floor.

Planning officers said in the report to councillors that details for the community space are not sufficient and officers from the transport, environmental health department and design departments objected to the scheme on various grounds.

Chairwoman of the Friends group Sally Long said after the application had been withdrawn: “We are still planning on going to the meeting. This is a step in the right direction.

“In the report from the planning officers there were many requirements they had not fulfilled with the new building.”