Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers today addressed the planning inquiry taking place on the future of North London Business Park. Comer Homes have planning consent for a large residential development there, but have applied for permission to expand this from 1350 dwellings to more than 2400, including several thirteen storey blocks.
Theresa has been campaigning against this proposal because she believes it would be an overdevelopment. It was unanimously rejected by Barnet Council's planning committee, but Comer Homes have submitted an appeal against that decision. This will now be determined by a planning inspector, following the planning inquiry.
Ms Villiers has been involved with this issue for nearly a decade and was at Hendon Town Hall this morning for the opening of the inquiry, in order to show her support for residents who are against the Comer plans.
She told the packed committee room at the town hall, "Over the years, I have had hundreds of conversations with constituents about the future of North London Business Park.
That includes residents who will be directly impacted who live in streets such as Fernwood Crescent, Denham Road, Weirdale Avenue, Ashbourne Avenue, Oakleigh Road North, Oakleigh Crescent, and Beresford Avenue.
More or less 100% of constituents who have expressed a view tell me they are against the plan to build 2419 dwellings on the site.
I am here to oppose this appeal and to set out reasons in planning policy why the unanimous cross-party decision made by the council’s planning committee was correct and should be upheld.
The GLA decided to let the council decision stand and I hope that the inspector and the Secretary of State will reach the same conclusion.
The consented scheme for 1350 units is already excessive, and adding a thousand more dwellings would be completely unacceptable. Buildings of up to 13 storeys would be wholly out of keeping with the character of an area largely made up of homes of just one or two storeys.
The tower blocks will be taller than any other nearby building and visible for miles around. They will be visually overbearing and would clearly contravene policies in the Barnet Local Plan on tall buildings."
Residents gathered for a protest outside the town hall prior to the start of the inquiry and Theresa joined them for a photo.
Digital imprint: Published by Theresa Villiers MP of 163 High Street, Barnet, Herts, EN5 5SU.
