August 1 2001: Negotiations are continuing with several businesses who will have to move if the planned £3billion Cricklewood regeneration scheme is to go ahead.

The project is still at an early stage with an estimated completion time of ten years, but Cricklewood Redevelopment Limited (CRL) is busy consulting those likely to be affected by the scheme.

It may have to offer financial compensation or alternative premises to several existing industrial businesses on the site. One of those businesses is Community Foods distribution company in Brent Terrace. Its sales director Tim Powell, said a move was not out of the question.

"It is not ideal, as this is a good location for us," he said. "It is a good spot and we have been here a long time, since 1987. So much depends on what is being offered as an alternative. We are not saying we want to move, but things do move on.

Charles Baggs, chairman of C G Baggs Group in Claremont Way, said this was not the first time plans to regenerate the area had been drawn up.

"If we believed everything we heard, we would have expected the area to have been redeveloped five or six years ago. The council has tried before and it seems that this is just the latest version. We would rather stay as we are quite happy where we are."

Holiday Inn, whose landmark multi-story tower block would have to be demolished if the plans go ahead, is not commenting at the moment.

CRL's Project development manager, Jonathan Joseph, is optimistic about the scheme. "We will always seek to try and reassure and include rather than exclude," he said.

"I have been assembling sites for development for all of the 30 years I have been in business. I have absolutely no doubt that we will be able to reach a satisfactory commercial decision."