Concerns over tower block heights and housing density in Edgware remain but cabinet member says “ship has sailed” on opposition to development, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Plans by Ballymore and TfL for Edgware with (inset left) Labour cabinet member Ross Houston and (inset right) Tory deputy group leader Lucy Wakeley

Councillors have approved the Barnet Local Plan despite ongoing concern over redevelopment plans for Edgware town centre.

The Local Plan document sets out Barnet Council’s vision for how the borough will change up to 2036 with land earmarked for new housing and employment space. It underwent public examination by a government-appointed inspector last year.

At a full council meeting on Tuesday (4th) Conservative group deputy leader Lucy Wakeley told the Labour administration it had done “nothing to address the concerns raised by residents” and accused it of reneging on its commitment in its 2022 manifesto commitment to “stop the tower block blight” and “ignoring hundreds of residents”.

Edgware has been recognised by the Greater London Authority as “suitable for regeneration and growth for decades”. However, residents have been calling on the council for years to lower height limits and housing density for Edgware in the Barnet Local Plan.

There are also specific plans submitted by a partnership between developer Ballymore and Transport for London (TfL), with 25 blocks up to 29 storeys proposed, as well as an underground electric bus garage that has prompted safety concerns from London Fire Brigade (LFB).

Ross Houston, cabinet member for housing and regeneration, said it was “not appropriate” for him to comment on the proposals from developers Ballymore and TfL because there is currently a live planning application.

He added the application would be considered “in the usual way” by the planning committee.

However, the meeting was also addressed by ‘Save Our Edgware’ campaigner Anuta Zack, who said the inclusion of a site in the Local Plan comprising Edgware Station, the adjacent bus depot, and Deans Brook Nature Reserve posed a “threat to Edgware’s future”.

She argued the majority of the site “can’t be built on” and the remaining “shouldn’t be built on”.

Anuta said: “Insisting on housing units here necessitates an underground electric bus garage. Despite London Fire Brigade’s warnings there are no building regulations for such a structure.

“Electric vehicle [EV] fires can exceed 1000 degrees, far beyond the 300 degrees at which concrete fails, posing a disaster risk under high-rise homes.”

Last October, LFB wrote to the council stating the general expectations of guidance could be “inadequate” in protecting the structural elements of the garage and the blocks of flats above it in the case of an EV bus fire.

Anuta also declared Deans Brook Nature Reserve, a home for protected species, had not undergone “proper ecological assessment”.

In response, Cllr Houston said the council could not input “a condition about a type of building into a planning document” adding it would become “out of date very quickly”.

He said development in Edgware “cannot be stopped” and admitted “I’m afraid that ship sailed many years ago”.

Cllr Houston added: “It’s down to TfL to use their own judgement and be held to account over any proposals they have in relation to the bus station. I can assure you, every member of the chamber wants to make sure we’re comfortable with any proposals in terms of health and safety and the provision of transport.”

Conservative councillor Shuey Gordon proposed officers provide a written response to Anuta’s deputation, stating Save Our Edgware’s objections “could not be ignored”. This was seconded by Richard Cornelius, however, the Labour group voted to take no action.

Cllr Houston said if the Local Plan was not approved the council would face “ridicule and public scrutiny” over the cost of the nine-year process.

Following the discussion the Barnet Local Plan was approved with 33 Labour councillors in favour and 18 Conservatives voting against.

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