News

Villiers calls on residents to have their say on Whalebones plans

The consultation on the scheme to build on the agricultural fields in High Barnet closes tomorrow

Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers at Whalestones fields in High Barnet
Theresa Villiers (with Cllr David Longstaff and former councillor, Julian Teare) next to the Whalebones site – (Credit – Office of Theresa Villiers MP)

Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers is calling on local residents to have their say on plans to build on agricultural fields in High Barnet.

Hill Residential’s previous plan to develop the green space were rejected by Barnet Council in 2015 and, on appeal, by a planning inspector in 2021. The developer submitted new plans last year and these are now open for consultation.

Now the MP is calling on residents to ‘Save the fields’ by registering their views via the council’s planning portal before the consultation closes tomorrow (February 28th).

Villiers said: “I want residents to have their say. The council neighbour consultation ends tomorrow. I am encouraging everyone who cares about protecting our green spaces to send in their views to Barnet Council.”

“Whalebones is one of the last areas of agricultural land in the suburbs. It is an important remnant of fields which used to cover much of Barnet. This land is an integral part of our local history and plays are crucial role in the Wood Street Conservation Area which covers this location.”

“Protection of open green land like this is exactly what planning rules are there to do. The reasons why the council and the planning inspector turned down the last plan are still valid. This proposal should be rejected as well. I will always fight to protect the green and leafy suburban environment here in the Chipping Barnet constituency.”

At time of writing, 415 comments had been received of which 383 were objections and 28 were supporting.


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.

Donate now with Pay Pal

More information on supporting us monthly 

More Information about donations