‘Completely inappropriate’ plans to graft a bowling alley and cinema on to a car park housing redevelopment will overload a residential street, a residents group warned.

The bowling alley and cinema were originally included in North Finchley’s Great North Leisure Park redevelopment but will now find a new home in Lodge Lane.

No plans have yet been formally submitted, but the scheme looks set to include between 92 and 97 homes in a six-storey development on the 232-space car park.

A car park of 87 spaces on the ground floor would provide parking for the commercial aspect of the scheme, which includes the bowling alley and cinema.

Lodge Lane is characterised by cottages, and Lodge Lane Residents’ Association chair Daniela Boyce warns the “bland” modern design would harm the mostly residential street.

She fears a repeat of experiences with the artsdepot, which has been criticised for being “too tall”.

Daniela added: “We’re really scared with the development being in Lodge Lane, the height of the building, six storeys high, it seems completely inappropriate, it will dwarf the small cottages in front of it.”

Daniela said Lodge Lane would struggle to cope with the anticipated traffic and with no free parking she fears it could lead to congestion and residents competing for spaces.

She also claimed there were security issues and potential noise disturbances, with “narrow walkways” and the new bowling alley potentially closing at 1am.

A Barnet Council spokesperson said: “Proposals for Lodge Lane are still being considered, so a final decision on the scale of the development and the number of homes has yet to be made.

“The community will continue to provide feedback through the North Finchley Partnership Board, which was set up in 2021 to allow residents to share their views on this site and the wider regeneration scheme. We will continue to work closely with them and listen to their views.”

The council spokesperson said the council was committed to working with its residents to ensure communities benefited from new developments and new buildings took “local character and need” into account.

They added: “We’ve been working with the developer, Regal London, at the pre-application stage, so that proposals for this site and others in North Finchley town centre respond to feedback from the community, including holding consultations, surveys and engagement events.

“Local residents have shared their views on issues such as building height, parking, traffic and sustainability, which has in turn helped to shape the design of the development. More public engagement events will take place.”

They added Regal London would be required to engage with the council’s new ‘quality review panel’, a team of planning experts helping ensure developments were built to a “high standard, including design”.

Regal London planning director Steve Harrington said: “We have been working closely with the local council on the masterplan proposals for North Finchley including our vision for Lodge Lane.

"We look forward to continuing to discuss the future of the neighbourhood with residents and businesses over the next months.”

The plans are expected to be submitted in September.