The group said the council’s plan was “unlawful, irrational, and based on flawed consultation” and says it “may be forced to initiate a High Court challenge” reports David Floyd

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

Campaign group Save Our Edgware has escalated its opposition to development in the area by launching a legal challenge to “potentially unlawful” parts of Barnet Council’s Local Plan.

The group’s lawyers, Leigh Day, have issued a formal letter challenging the decision to allocate “Site 28” – an area including Edgware’s bus station, bus garage, underground station and part of the Deans Brook Nature Reserve – for high-rise residential development.

In the letter the group claims that the council’s plan, which was formally adopted last month, “is unlawful, irrational, and based on flawed consultation and planning assumptions that ignore the real-world constraints of the site”.

The plans to build on “Site 28” are part of a wider plan by a partnership of Transport for London and developer Ballymore to build 25 tower blocks and create 3,828 new homes that has attracted significant local opposition.

Explaining the group’s position, Save Our Edgware spokesperson, Anuta Zack said: “You can’t just draw a line around a functioning transport hub and call it housing land.”

She added: “This plan assumes essential infrastructure can be relocated or built over — but there’s no evidence it can be done safely or at all.”

Save Our Edgware is calling on Barnet Council to: “withdraw Site 28 from the Local Plan immediately, pause all progress related to the site pending legal review, and disclose feasibility evidence, including communications with TfL and assessments related to infrastructure constraints”.

It says that if the council does not respond, it “may be forced to initiate a High Court Challenge”.

Barnet Council’s Local Plan was approved at a full council meeting on 4th March. During the debate, cabinet member for housing, Ross Houston, said that the concerns raised by Save Our Edgware could not be addressed as part of the Local Plan process.

He told the meeting: “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.”

He added: “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.”

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