Ironically-named Builders Arms is facing closure threats thanks to an adjacent building site, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

The construction site in front of the Builders Arms (credit Nina Hristova)

The owners of a New Barnet pub have appealed for support to stay open amid problems caused by nearby construction works.

Disruption from the Park Quarter development, a 44-home scheme from developer Fairview New Homes, has left the owners of the Builders Arms, which faces the construction site in Albert Road, worried it will have to close.

Nina Hristova, the assistant manager, said the pub has had to “push out” its business hours to avoid clashing with construction times as the area outside its entrance is used to “unload deliveries” and for “cranes and cars”.

The “intolerable” situation meant the Builders Arms, which usually opened from 12pm, has been opening at 6pm, losing out on six hours of trade.

Nina said: “This has been crushing and suffocating us. There’s no regard that local businesses are still trying to go on.”

Barnet Council, which designated Albert Road to Fairview as a ‘pit lane’ – a safe area to allow the controlled deposit and delivery of building materials – sympathised with the business’ struggle.

A spokesperson said the issue was being taken “very seriously” and “site inspections” were being carried out.

Nina said the construction work, which started around the beginning of the year, “blew up” over summer.

She said: “They’ve [Fairveiw] claimed from the start they’ve communicated they’re plans but the first point of communication we received was a newsletter left on our bar a couple of weeks ago.

“We saw it had started getting more serious when the whole road was blocked by their vans and cranes, the road has not been closed though, but every angle and way our customers can walk to get to us is blocked.

“Staff and our deliveries can’t park anywhere along the road either now because the construction vehicles have priority and when we have attempted to we’ve received penalties.

“They’re [Fairview] going about their business at the expense of ours. Our licence is from 12pm but people can’t get down to us.

“Customers have told us they think Albert Road is dangerous, not safe, there’s fences lying around.”

Nina described an incident when a fence from the construction site “fell on top” of a customer and claimed “nobody registered” the incident and after the person was helped up “nothing happened”.

“It’s so physically and mentally draining to deal with everyday,” she said.

The Park Quarter site replaced New Barnet’s Salvation Army Hall and further construction on the former gasworks site at the end of Albert Road are anticipated as plans again from Fairview for 420 homes were approved in March.

Nina said Fairview had a permit to use the road as a ‘pit lane’ until “June 2025”.

She said the loss of customers represented a “big number that’s being felt” and worried if the situation continued it would “close us down”.

“We survived a pandemic, that was a pretty tough experience, and this almost feels like another bigger kick in the teeth.

“It’s gotten to a point where we really need the backing of the community, we feel a bit helpless.”

A council spokesperson said: “Our planning enforcement team have recently been made aware of these issues at the site and take such matters very seriously.

“The team are actively engaged in communication with the developer and the site manager. An enforcement case has been raised, and site inspections are being undertaken.

“If there is any breach of the approved demolition and construction management plan, which provided safeguards to ensure public access to Albert Road, there are various formal notices that may be served in order to ensure the developer, and their approved contractor, adhere to the plan.”

Fairview New Homes declined to comment.

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