NEIGHBOURS have been left devastated after councillors approved "absurd" plans to build new homes. 


Barnet Council's planning committee voted to bulldoze a building in Accommodation Road, Golders Green, and replace it with eight houses.


But as councillors voted two in favour and two against, chairman Cllr John Marshall had the casting vote and gave the plans the green light. 


Meanwhile a conservation wall in Woodstock Road will remain - but husband and wife David and Julia Brown say this is not enough.
Mr Brown says he is "riled" after councillors labelled the area as an "inner city location".


He said: “The result is a huge disappointment. It seems absurd these councillors, most close to the community and the ward, recognise this development, as it does seem they were on our side, but it was still passed.


“In the planning application, our area is being looked at as an inner city location, when it is a small cobbled street. We should have new developments, but this design completely ignores the people of the Golders Green town centre conservation area.”


More than 400 people live in the Golders Green conservation area. 
The plans have previously drawn privacy and noise concerns - but councillors ordered the developers to create "fixed and opaque" roof windows. 


Julia Brown, David’s wife, said: “The neighbourhood were pleased the committee recognised the importance of the conservation area and privacy issues. Privacy is so important, it is a human right.


“It is hard to tell if there will be a lot more traffic, but with more people, more traffic will follow.”


Kevin O’Sullivan also of Woodstock road, has lived in Golders Green for 35 years and said: “The whole area is changing dramatically. 


“My side is being ripped to pieces, there seems to be one rule for the left hand side of Golders Green and another rule for the area’s garden suburb bit. I can see that the council needs to accommodate people, but developers are making an awful lot of money.


“It is a pity because the area was a nice residential area, and now my neighbours will lose privacy and light as new houses will look over the current ones.


Applicant David Grunberg is a founding partner and of accountancy firm, Grunberg and co in Accommodation Rd, Barnet said: “I am thrilled that the council has approved the scheme, but I am genuinely sorry that people are upset.


“We have been here for 25 years, and it has been a long journey, as we have been trying to improve the area for years.”


Despite members agreeing to protect the area, Councillor Jack Cohen of the Childs Hill ward raised concerns.


He said said: “I know the area well and in the inspectors report it describes it as an inner city location, but it is not in a city, it is often argued for being either an urban or a suburban area”


“I am very unhappy with this, I note the improvements but it is not enough to convince me.”