Fears of the impact of overdevelopment on public services have been brought to light, sparking debate between political parties.

Barnet Liberal Democrat candidates Jonathan Davies and Alasdair Hill spoke out on results of a survey which revealed 44 new "tower blocks" to be built in Barnet and neighbouring areas, citing the overdevelopment as a potential risk to schools, transport and health services in Colindale, Cricklewood and Childs Hill.

However the Barnet Conservatives hit back that some of these blocks are still at application stage and that they are “delivering regeneration with a sustainable long-term plan.”

Assets, Regeneration and Growth Committee chairman Dan Thomas said: “Barnet’s population is set to increase by almost 44,000 in the next ten years alone. These people need somewhere to live and Barnet Conservatives are delivering this regeneration with a sustainable long-term plan.

He added: “If either of them had read the Colindale Area Action Plan, they would know there are already plans for Colindale tube station to be redeveloped, Saracens have proposed building a new primary school on the former Peel Centre site, and there are proposals for the building of three new health centres.”

The survey, published on the New London Architecture website, said 22 tall buildings of 20 storeys or more are expected to come to Barnet and a further 22 in neighbouring areas, with these being defined as under construction, having planning permission or having gone to the planning committee at a pre-application stage.

Liberal Democrat candidate for Hendon Alasdair Hill said: "Colindale is already vastly overdeveloped. Services are at breaking point and further large, expensive developments will put unbearable pressure on Colindale tube station, local school and GP places."