Residents are being invited to have their say on the development set to provide around 350 homes, reports Simon Allin, Local Democracy Reporter

Watling Car Park and (inset) the plans being proposed for the site by Linkcity

Residents are being invited to have their say on plans to build new housing on a car park in Burnt Oak.

Barnet Council and developer Linkcity are planning to redevelop Watling Avenue Car Park to provide around 350 homes in blocks up to twelve storeys high, with 50% of the flats classed as affordable.

The scheme would also provide community facilities, a park, tree-planting, and pedestrian and cycle links.

Plans to sell the site for development were approved by the council in 2021, and it signed an agreement with Linkcity to build the scheme in February this year.

Initial proposals on the developer’s website state that car parking “will be provided in line with the council’s guidelines and we are currently working out the number of spaces”.

An area of green space next to the car park, and nearby Burnt Oak Library, are also included in the proposed development site. According to the plans, the library could be relocated to a site currently occupied by a builders’ merchant in Barnfield Road.

The proposals state that the development is based on “garden city” principles, integrating homes with “generous landscaping” including “quality play spaces, numerous street trees and a biodiverse linear park that follows along the Silk Stream”.

A consultation has now been launched on the initial plans and will run until 27th November, with a series of exhibitions being held this month – starting tomorrow (Thursday 2nd) at Watling Community Centre, 145 Orange Hill Road, HA8 0TR, from 2pm–5pm. Residents can also find out more about the proposed scheme and have their say by visiting its website.

After considering the feedback, Linkcity aims to submit a planning application towards the end of this year. If the plans are approved, it hopes to begin construction within the next 18 months.

Information is also available on the council’s consultation website here.

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else. £84 annual supporters get a print copy by post and a digital copy of each month's before anyone else.