Chipping Barnet representative Theresa Villiers says the proposal for a caravan park on greenbelt land is “completely unacceptable”

A horse in a field in Mays Lane, Chipping Barnet — The field in Mays Lane currently used to graze horses. (Credit – Officer of Theresa Villiers MP)

The MP for Chipping Barnet has announced her strong objections to plans for a caravan park on greenbelt land in her constituency which have been submitted to Barnet Council.

Theresa Villiers is urging local residents to have their say on the plans to open the caravan park for residential use in a field next to Mays Lane, near Whitings Hill Open Space, which is currently used to graze horses.

She said: “This proposal is completely unacceptable. It goes against fundamental principles of planning law to let green belt land be developed for residential use without an extremely strong and exceptional reason for doing that. No exceptional circumstances apply here which could possibly justify the council allowing this proposal to go ahead.”

“I’ve submitted my objection to the planning process and I am encouraging my constituents to do this as well. The green belt has protected London from urban sprawl for many decades. If planning applications like this one are accepted, that tears a big hole in this protection, and I hope councillors sitting on the council’s planning committee will through it out.”

“I’m also concerned about reports of caravan park owners abusing planning laws and extending their sites without permission – another good reason not to allow this development to happen.”

“The fields around Mays Lane are part of an important wildlife corridor which would be jeopardised by allowing a caravan park to go ahead. Also, the road and pedestrian infrastructure around this site is completely inadequate to support new residential use. There isn’t even a footway.”

Residents seeking to express their views on the plans can go to https://publicaccess.barnet.gov.uk/online-applications/ and enter the reference 23/3816/FUL in the Search box.

At time of publication, the application has received 633 comments, of which 626 were objections. The deadline for responses is October 6th.

The agents for the application, Green Planning Studio Ltd, have been approached for comment.

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