Plans to sell off green space in Cricklewood for housing have been met with anger.

Barnet council has put forward proposals to sell the land in front of B&Q, on Cricklewood Lane, to developers Pocket Living, who will build 42 flats on the site, with shops on the ground floor.

The site was bought by the council in 2004 for £500 from the Crown Estate, on the basis the land could not be built on – a restriction which has since been withdrawn following negotiations. Proceeds of the sale will be equally divided between the Crown Estate and the council.

In a report to the assets, regeneration and growth committee, which will decide on the matter on September 7, council officers said the land is “regularly fly-tipped”, and attracts rough sleepers, drinkers and drug users.

They added: “Retention of the site in its existing condition would not only allow these problems to continue, but also drain the council’s resources in terms of on-going management costs.”

Officers said the site “represents a significant development opportunity”, and would help Barnet meet its housing targets. All the homes will be affordable, sold at 80 per cent of market value, and will only be available to Barnet residents, they added.

Fiona Colgan, from Cricklewood, who has campaigned over the years to have the site used as a community park, criticised the proposals to sell off the area’s “only green space”.

In an email to Childs Hill councillors, she said: “This green is a resource and focus for our community, a community that Barnet has always neglected. If Barnet needs more housing, why not build it in the leafy suburbs to the north eg Hampstead Garden suburb?

“This is the only green space and 'public realm' in Cricklewood. We do not need more retail nor to add to the congestion on Cricklewood Lane.

“Despite our campaign, we now find that Barnet has gone behind our back to the Crown Estate to allow it to sell off land which was ear-marked to be our green space/public realm.”

She added: “The concerns and aspirations of people in Cricklewood for a pocket park/public realm at the heart of our community are not addressed in the documents on the agenda at all. Concerns about rough sleepers addressed in these documents are a separate issue and will not be satisfactorily addressed by building on our only area of public realm.”

Childs Hill councillor Jack Cohen, whose ward covers Cricklewood, said: “It is an absolute outrage, and I consider it to be a very sneaky thing to do. Why it is so shocking is one of the justifications they are using is the public space costs too much to maintain, and it might attract undesirables.

“This is all about money, it is not about the community at all. This seems to be selling off the whole Cricklewood green, leaving nothing at all for residents, and quite rightly they are up in arms. This is the lungs of Cricklewood, and the council is selling it off.”

The Liberal Democrat councillor added: “The first and major concern for residents is the loss of green space. This is a slap in the face. It is typical Barnet, they are selling everything off to make money. I am sure the community will fight this.”

A Barnet council spokesman said: “The council’s assets, regeneration and growth committee will consider a proposal for the disposal in principle of the grassed area in front of B&Q at Cricklewood. There is no intention to sell the recently improved paved area, which will be retained. 

“Members of the public have the opportunity to speak at the committee and submit written questions. If the committee agrees the principle of selling the land, the council goes through a statutory process that gives members of the public the opportunity to raise any issues or concerns before a final decision is made.

“The sale would only go ahead if Pocket Living obtains planning consent for its proposal to build affordable homes. There will be full consultation on these proposals before they are considered by the planning committee."