A 92-year-old tennis club has “secured its future” in Barnet after being granted planning permission to build a new centre in the borough.

With time dwindling on its lease, the approval to relocate from Golders Green to East Finchley could not have come at a better time for Chandos Lawn Tennis Club (LTC).

The club in Chandos Way, Wellgarth Road, will build new courts and a clubhouse on the former site of Finchley Manor Garden Centre in East End Road.

The new club will provide four full-sized open clay courts, four full-sized covered courts and one open mini-court as well as parking facilities for cars and bikes and a single storey clubhouse with a restaurant.

Michael Helfgott, who has been a member of the club for 20 years, told last night’s Barnet Borough Council planning and environment committee how important the application was to the future of Chandos LTC.

He said: “The future of the club is uncertain. This will secure the long term future of the club.”

Mr Helfgott also said the club will welcome local schools to make use of their facilities and “interact with all members of the community”.

Chandos LTC's current facilities in Wellgarth Road will be demolished to make way for 39 flats and six houses.

Social housing will also be provided as part of the scheme, with 11 flats and eight houses due to be built on the Stonegrove estate.

But a total of 80 objections were submitted to the council, with the majority of complaints surrounding noise and lack of privacy.

Linda Turner, who lives in North End Road, was among those worried about noise from the Wellgarth Road site.

She said: “The other thing that hasn’t been taken into account are the number of blind spots on the road. I often walk along Wellgarth Road and cars come hurtling down and people have to jump out of the way. If this was a council development, I don’t think it would be allowed because of the access.”

Despite neighbours' concerns, the plans were approved by the committee.

Councillor John Marshall said: “So far as the development in East End Road is concerned, I think its jolly good this rather decrepit site is going to be sorted out.”