Plans to knock down garages and build affordable homes at an estate in Edgware have been approved by councillors.

Barnet Homes, the council’s housing arm, has won permission to build 28 flats at Broadfields Estate.

The scheme will see garages to the rear of existing three-storey flats fronting Kenilworth Road demolished to make way for two blocks of housing three and four storeys high. The council received £2.8million from the Greater London Authority to help fund the development, and all of the homes will be made available for London Affordable Rent.

Barnet Homes scaled down its original plans to build 45 homes at the estate to ensure the blocks are a safe distance from a culverted stream running through the site.

The council received 21 objections from residents during an initial public consultation on the proposed scheme, with concerns raised including a loss of storage space, increased traffic and pollution, and a loss of privacy for existing homes. No-one spoke against the plans when they were presented to a meeting of the strategic planning committee on Wednesday.

Simon Owen, from planning advisers HTA Design, told the committee “an important ambition” of the scheme was to “significantly enhance green space on the estate”, with “improved garden areas” and “two new play areas”.

He added that the planned flats had been “carefully positioned” to minimise the impact on neighbours’ privacy.

There would be 31 parking spaces provided, he continued, adding that surveys had shown there would be “sufficient parking nearby to easily accommodate any additional demand”.

Under questioning from councillors, Simon said new pram stores would be built to replace sheds now set to be demolished.

Part of the new development will be on an existing area of green space next to the garages. Committee chair Nigel Young said councillors would like to see as much green space retained as possible, suggesting it may be possible to reduce an area of hardstanding near one of the blocks. Council planning officers agreed to add Cllr Young’s suggestion for such guidance to be added to the application.

The plans were then unanimously approved by the committee.