Plans to build tower blocks of flats at two tube station car parks have been dropped.

Developers Taylor Wimpey have officially confirmed that they have withdrawn proposals to develop housing at both High Barnet and Finchley Central Station.

Plans drawn up by the developer and Transport for London (TfL) involved building up to 300 flats at High Barnet and up to 560 at Finchley Central, with the latter scheme including a tower block rising to 20 storeys high in an area of predominantly low-rise homes. Both schemes would have led to the loss of most of the station parking spaces.

It is understood that work with Barnet Council continued throughout the pandemic, but a letter from Patrick Clark, of TfL commercial development, states “Taylor Wimpey have restructured and no longer wish to pursue the opportunity for new homes in Barnet”.

Taylor Wimpey however have not provided further context for their decision.

Following the announcement, TfL say they will have to consider their next steps and assess “how best to move forward”.

A TfL spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, Taylor Wimpey, the developer we had selected to work with us to deliver new homes and improvements to the area in both High Barnet and Finchley Central, has decided that they no longer wish to pursue this opportunity.

“We are now considering our next steps, assessing how best to move forward with plans at these locations given the urgent need to tackle the capital’s housing crisis, and will continue to engage with Barnet Council, our commercial tenants, and the local community as we do so.”

According to Taylor Wimpey, the decision to drop out was made following discussions, however the developers did not clarify further details as to what these discussions involved.

Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers described Taylor Wimpey’s decision as a “very big setback” for TfL.

“At the very least, it will mean a significant delay,” Theresa said. “So I believe that today’s news means that we are now much closer to beating these proposals and saving the station car parks.”

Campaign group Hands off Finchley Central issued a statement saying they were never against the "sorely-needed new housing" and they were horrified by the "grossly intrusive scale of this development".“

Labour's Housing & Growth spokesperson, Cllr Ross Houston said: "This is welcome news, but what's needed now is a major re-think about these developments, including whether they should go ahead at all.

"Both myself and Labour councillors lobbied the Mayor's office hard on this."

He continued: "We met the Mayor's Office several times about reducing the height and density at both Finchley Central and High Barnet.

"Some welcome changes were made to the initial plans - now it's time to reconsider the plans and the locations.

"Some limited use of the TfL estate is right, but community concerns must be addressed. For any developments to go ahead here, residents must co-produce any new plans."