A developer will press ahead with a consultation on a housing scheme despite the ongoing disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Housebuilder Redrow is planning to build more than 300 homes at the site of the Homebase store in 679 High Road, North Finchley, with 35 per cent classed as affordable.

Initial plans for the site include landscaped gardens for residents and new routes for walking and cycling.

The firm says that while face-to-face consultation is not possible, it has sent out information to thousands of households so they can view and comment on the proposals.

But Alice Jones, who lives in Hutton Grove, said she was “astounded” to receive a leaflet about the development – and called for the consultation process to be halted until the coronavirus crisis is over.

She said people using her street’s WhatsApp group were “extremely angry and sad” that Redrow had chosen to push on with the proposal.

Ms Jones said: “A lot of people on this street are struggling to deal with the lockdown. Surely this whole thing is unessential and therefore should not be taking place?

“I run a family business in the borough. I have two kids at home, and I’m trying to maintain a degree of Easter Holiday feeling and teach them as well – and this comes through the door. It’s just soul-destroying.

“To me, it’s just an added stress. I know people who work in the NHS – they are struggling to get people to look after their children. This is not the kind of thing they need through their door.”

Ms Jones said the development could worsen existing traffic and air pollution problems in the area.

She added: “We’ve got less and less space in Barnet, and it is an ideal space for development, but now is not the time to suggest 300 more homes.”

Ricardo Rossetti, land and planning director at Redrow’s Greater London region, said the planning process would continue “in line with Government advice”.

Mr Rossetti said: “We are committed to ensuring the local community has the opportunity to view, discuss and comment on our proposals for new homes in North Finchley.

“To facilitate this, during a time when face-to-face consultation is not possible, we have sent out information to 3,860 households in the immediate area, providing them with information on how to view the scheme online, alongside contact details for the team should they wish to discuss our plans in more detail or require a copy of the documents to be sent in the post.

“In addition, we are running adverts online and in the local newspaper to capture a wide audience within the consultation process. This approach was shared with planning officers and councillors at the London Borough of Barnet in advance.

“In line with Government advice the planning process is continuing to operate during these unprecedented times, with local authorities and applicants encouraged to use technology to ensure discussions and consultations can go ahead. We look forward to discussing these proposals with the community in the weeks ahead.”

For more information, and to comment on the proposals, go to: http://679highroad.co.uk/