The Chipping Barnet application was refused by Barnet Council last December as it was deemed an “inappropriate development”, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

A horse in a field in Mays Lane, Chipping Barnet — The field in Mays Lane currently is used to graze horses (credit Office of Theresa Villiers MP)

A proposal for a caravan park on Green Belt land in Chipping Barnet will be decided by a planning inspector at a public inquiry.

The original application to station caravans in the two-acre paddock used for horses to graze, next to Mays Lane near Whitings Hill Open Space, was refused by Barnet Council in December 2023 as it was deemed an “inappropriate development”.

The application received thousands of comments from locals objecting to the plan.

The applicant, Patrick Casey, represented by agents Green Planning Studio Ltd, has appealed the decision and the proposal will now be decided by a planning inspector at a hearing on Saturday, 21st January.

Gina Theodorou, chair of Quinta Village Green residents association, which helps maintain Quinta Open Space, objected to the plan on the grounds the site was Green Belt land and it would “affect the village green [Quinta Open Space] and its neighbourhood”.

The association applied for and was granted ‘Rule 6’ status meaning they will be considered a ‘main party’ at the appeal inquiry.

She worried caravans would “urbanise part of a vital habitat network” and removed a piece of the corridor that connected Totteridge Valley and Arkley South Fields.

Gina said: “We’re all about preserving the green spaces we have because we’re losing them all over the borough and all over London.”

Explaining its history, Gina said the land was private, split in two, and originally owned by a Christian denomination called Church of the Brethren, before they sold both off the plots.

She said: “We don’t have access to that land but it borders publicly accessible greenbelt such as Whitings Wood, which lots of people use locally.

“You can see into this plot of land, it does affect the visual amenity, the wildlife, so once that’s built on it means there’s no continuity in the Green Belt.”

A Barnet Council spokesperson said: “After carefully considering all of the public representations and the relevant planning policies, officers issued a decision to refuse the application on 21st December 2023.

“The reasons for refusal related to the proposal being an inappropriate development in the Green Belt resulting in harm to openness, visual harm to character and appearance, ecological impact, flooding risk and highway safety.

“An appeal was made against this decision, and the case will now be determined by a planning inspector at a hearing that is scheduled to take place on 21st January 2025.”

Green Planning Studio Ltd was approached for comment.

More information on the appeal can be found via Barnet Council’s planning portal, using reference number 24/00180/AREF.

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