Plans for 115 homes up to five storeys in height and within a conservation area have been controversial locally, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

The plans by Rolfe Judd Architects and (inset) the entrance to Whalebones Park

The Mayor of London’s office has approved divisive plans for 115 homes at Whalebones Park – concluding a years-long planning dispute.

Plans for 115 homes ranging from two to five storeys in height, with 35% affordable housing and two hectares of public open space were approved for Whalebones Park, which sits within the Wood Street Conservation Area.

The development, which was approved by Barnet Council’s strategic planning committee in March and then referred to the mayor’s office, where it was approved this week, has been controversial due to its use of a conservation area.

Gina Theodorou, the chair of the local resident’s association, Quinta Village Green, launched a petition in the lead-up to the Mayor’s decision that received over 2,000 signatures, urging the office to refuse the plan.

Gina said the development would cause “substantial harm” to the area.

She said: “It will result in the loss of the last remnant of countryside in the conservation area and would be out of character, too dense and would blur the conservation boundary.

“Objectors do not believe that the benefits of the development outweigh the harm, particularly as it would only contribute 0.76% to the borough’s five-year housing target.

“It would result in a significant loss of green space and cover and cause harm to the historic environment and local character as well as a loss of habitat network and increased fragmentation.”

In contrast, in March, Barnet Residents Association member Gordon Massey said the association considered the plan “one of the best schemes” they’d ever seen.

He did acknowledge the “negative impact” of the loss of green space, however of the green space that would remain, “almost 50%” would qualify as a public open space while the area currently was not publicly accessible.

He did not think the plan was dense and approved the housing mix.

Gordon said: “We always look carefully at the impact on residential neighbours, often a reason we oppose a scheme.

“Only part of Collison Avenue, a local road, and a small part of Wood Street are in sight of the housing development.”

The number of affordable housing in the plan equates to 46 homes, of these, 28 will be affordable rent and 18 will be intermediate tenure (shared ownership).

Gina said the area had some of the “most expensive property prices and rents” and believed the affordable housing would be “unaffordable for the majority”.

She added the development would create “traffic problems” and “put more pressure on an area of poor transport connectivity”.

In response a spokesperson from the mayor’s office said: “As part of the stage two referral [the process where the mayor reviews planning applications approved by a local planning authority] the mayor took into account all representations received, in addition to a detailed assessment of the proposal by Greater London Authority planning officers, and was content for Barnet to determine the application as it had resolved.”

A council spokesperson said: “The scheme brings a number of public benefits, including 35% affordable housing provision.

“There will also be two hectares of new public open spaces, including play areas, sensory meadows and woodland walks.

“The decision was made following extensive consultation with local residents and community groups as part of the statutory planning process.”

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