Barnet Council approves 'mews-style' housing

Barnet Council’s planning committee this week (Monday, March 4) gave the green light to 97 new homes – half of which will be classed as affordable – near Beechwood Avenue in Church End, Finchley.

The eye-catching homes, which will be up to four-storeys high, are designed to provide high-density housing without the need for tall buildings.

They will be built along a new street, which the developers claim will encourage a sense of community and provide an alternative pedestrian route to walking along the busy North Circular.

The council received 19 letters of objection and four letters in support of the scheme.

Simon Shaer, who lives on Beechwood Avenue, told the committee the development would lead to parking problems on his street.

He said: “The developer should provide at least a one-to-one ratio of units to car parking spaces.”

But Phil Hamilton, director at Peter Barber Architects, said the proposals were an opportunity to improve a brownfield site that had been left derelict and overgrown for more than 20 years.

He said the new street would “enhance the sense of community in the neighbourhood” and the mews would be “quiet and peaceful”.

Mr Hamilton added that the underfloor car park would provide more spaces than the amount required under planning regulations.

A council planning officer added that a parking survey showed the impact on nearby streets “would not be significant”.

Cllr Brian Gordon, Conservative member for Edgware, said: “It looks like an attractive development, and it will fit in very nicely. I think it is something we need to replicate in the wider area.

“In terms of affordable housing, it ticks the boxes.”

Cllr Tim Roberts, Labour member for Underhill, said: “It is rare for this committee to receive an application with 50 per cent affordable housing.

“That is to be highly commended in an area that will benefit from affordable housing.”

The plans were unanimously agreed by members of the committee.