Plans for three large houses on green space in a Barnet neighbourhood have been approved despite objections from local residents.

The project in High Barnet will see the demolition of a house and the creation of three two-storey detached properties with rooms in the roofs and associated landscaping and parking.

Most of the land, which is situated at High Prospect and land at the rear of Rogate and Saxby Arkley Drive, is currently used as the rear gardens of three properties and is interspersed with trees and shrubs.

The council received nine letters of objection, and a number of residents opposed to the development were present at the meeting of the Chipping Barnet Area Planning Committee last night (April 24).

Concerns had been raised that the buildings would be out of character with the area, could impinge on neighbours’ privacy and may disturb the nearby Green Belt.

Residents on Arkley Drive and Carrington Close said the new buildings would be “overbearing”.

Councillor David Longstaff, who represents the High Barnet ward, told the committee it was an “overdevelopment of the site” and deemed it “out of character”.

He added there would not be space for vehicles to pass each other on the access road.

“Sewers have been a problem in this area for some time,” he added. “It could create additional problems with the sewers.

“Residents are very concerned they may be overlooked by the buildings. They ask you to respectfully refuse this application.”

A previous application was turned down on January 19 on the grounds that the proposed buildings were out-of-character and too close to neighbouring properties, while the access road was too narrow.

Since then, the plans have been changed and planning officers concluded “the proposal is not considered to result in any significant levels of impact on the residential amenity of neighbouring occupiers”.

The applicant’s agent argued that the buildings’ “high quality design would improve the character and appearance of the road”.

He pointed out that, while the detached properties would not be classed as affordable housing, they would help to meet the council’s housing target.

The agent said large dwellings of four bedrooms and more were the “highest priority” for the council.

“There is a housing crisis and we need new dwellings,” he said. “Whatever dwelling is provided, it is providing more supply in the market.”

Councillors voted narrowly to approve the planning application.