Concerns that a regeneration scheme would change the mix of people on the estate were heard at a public inquiry today.

The inquiry started on Tuesday and centres on Barnet Borough Council’s use of compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) in the West Hendon Regeneration Scheme.

Under the orders, people have been ordered to sell their homes to make way for 2,000 new flats.

Paul Shipway, Barnet Borough Council’s head of strategy and performance, told the inquiry that all but two or three secure tenants had been successfully rehoused, with 20 non-secure tenants still waiting.

He said that people had been moved an average of three miles, and that one person has been rehoused outside the borough.

Questioned about why the council had not simply brought the estate up to the decent homes standard when the scheme was announced in 2002, Mr Shipway said the council’s approach had been to replace homes in order to deal with the “inherent problems” of the 1960s buildings.

Speaking on behalf of tenants, Jasmin Parsons explained how leaseholders had ended up having to pay for maintenance works during the past few years because the council had neglected to do the repairs earlier.

She said leaseholders had been offered £175,000 for their two-bedroom flats, and £115,000 for one-bedroom flats.

She told Mr Shipway that the council was moving some tenants into other estates, and questioned how mixed the community would be once the scheme was completed.

Mr Shipway replied that there would be a mixture of old and new residents.

The architect behind the scheme, Hendrik Heyns, explained how the highest planned tower block would be 29 storeys high and said there would be better access to open space with new bridges across the Welsh Harp reservoir.

Tenant Kalim Khalick said it was essential children had space to play in, but expressed his concerns about the bridges – as children would be further away from their parents.

One tenant questioned Mr Heyns about the new gated courtyards on the estate, which he feared would restrict freedom of movement.

Although Mr Heyns denied this would create “gated communities” on the estate, he said the use of such courtyards was “normal practice”.

West Hendon councillor Adam Langleben also asked about the loss of council homes, with Mr Shipway accepting that there would be a reduction in the number let through the council.

The inquiry is set to continue at 10am tomorrow morning in Hendon Town Hall, and will last until next Friday.