Barnet Council granted nearly £4m by Greater London Authority to develop two new housing schemes, reports Simon Allin, Local Democracy Reporter

Housebuilding — The Greater London Authority is helping deliver new housing in Barnet

Plans to build 56 new homes in High Barnet have taken a step forward after councillors approved a business case for the proposals.

Barnet Council-owned company The Barnet Group wants to develop sites owned by the local authority in Moxon Street and Whitings Road as part of plans to build 1,000 affordable homes.

The Whitings Road scheme would see 35 homes built on a site next to Whitings Road Primary School, with eleven for social rent, nine for shared ownership and 15 for open market sale.

At Moxon Street, The Barnet Group wants to build 21 mews houses on a site that is currently home to a tile store, with eight classed as shared ownership and the rest for open market sale.

A report by town hall bosses says the council received positive feedback on the proposals during consultations with the local community and stakeholder groups. It adds that the plans were amended in response to feedback.

The council has secured a £3.79million grant from the Greater London Authority to help deliver the schemes.

According to the report, over the last three years the average London borough has delivered 21% of units as affordable housing, but Barnet has only provided around 18%.

The schemes are set to save the authority £247,000 per year by providing extra council tax revenue and avoiding temporary accommodation costs.

The council confirmed that the outline business case for the schemes was approved by its housing and growth committee last week. Planning applications are expected to be submitted next month, and a full business case is due to be presented to the council’s cabinet next year.

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