The 29-storey height of the proposed scheme next to Edgware Station has prompted a backlash from local residents, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Ballymore's vision for a new town square and cinema as part of its Edgware redevelopment (credit Ballymore/Place for London) — The vision for a new town square and cinema as part of its Edgware redevelopment (credit Ballymore/Place for London)

Developers have submitted a major planning application for thousands of new homes in Edgware town centre – despite nine-in-ten residents said to be opposed to the scheme.

The plan has been jointly submitted by Ballymore and Transport for London (TfL) and seeks approval from Barnet Council for the construction of 3,365 homes adjacent to Edgware Station, including 1,150 affordable homes and 463 student flats, as well as the redevelopment of Broadwalk Shopping Centre and a new bus station and garage.

As expected, the tallest building within the development is proposed to be 29 storeys high and will be located at the heart of the scheme, within a new “town square”.

There are 13 blocks proposed in total that will be 20 storeys or taller, with these set to be located at the northern edge and centre of the site. A further seven blocks would be between ten and 19 storeys tall, with heights coming down to between five and nine storeys towards the southern boundary adjacent to existing residential properties.

Graeme Craig, director and chief executive at Place for London, TfL’s property company, said: “Following extensive engagement with the local community and close collaboration with our partner, Ballymore, we are pleased that the planning application to deliver an enhanced and improved town centre for Edgware has now been submitted.”

The urgent need for housing, new open spaces and revitalising the local economy have been cited by Graeme as reasons to support the application.

However, the plans have proved highly controversial in Edgware ever since they were first revealed over a year ago.

Tony Allan, chair of Edgware Community Association, has responded to the formal submission of the planning application by criticising the “tower block issue” and what he says is a lack of acknowledgement of this as a key concern from residents.

A pre-application engagement process by the developers collected feedback from 3,000 residents, but Tony says this week’s announcment from Ballymore shows they’ve been ignored.

“It just seems they haven’t listened at all,” Tony told the Local Democracy Reporting Service. “I happen to know, the comments that were made to Ballymore, over 90% disagreed with what they were planning to do.

“We’re saying, yes, they need development, but not the way they’re looking at doing it, nobody wants tower blocks.”

Alongside housing, Ballymore says its plans include a “significant increase in green space” for the town centre, including a new 4.7-acre nature park around the area of Deans Brook.

The new town centre will “double the existing volume of commercial space” adding a cinema, office space and businesses, it adds.

The whole development is expected to be completed by 2036, with the first phase, subject to consent, including around 1,000 new homes, the bus station and garage, alongside retail and leisure offerings.

John Mulryan, group managing director at Ballymore, said plans looked to “help” Edgware “thrive over the next 100 years”.

He said: “We’re proud of the plans we’re submitting, and we thank the huge numbers of people in the community who’ve met our design team and helped shape these plans.”

Speaking about the emphasis on sustainability, Graeme added: “From a new transport interchange to cycling and walking improvements, these designs will help to encourage sustainable travel and make Edgware and London an even more fantastic place for people to live, work and travel in.”

Tony said campaigners from the group Save our Edgware had arranged to speak with both Barnet Council and Ballymore in the coming weeks in hopes of negotiating on the plan’s terms.

The full planning application is still being validated by Barnet Council but will be available to view via the local authority’s planning portal later this month.

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