The fire authority has intervened to ensure that fire safety provisions for the Broadwalk development’s underground bus garage apply to non-electric as well as electric vehicle reports David Floyd

An alleyway with a tower block at the far end and a red van on the right hand side — The proposed site of the entrance to the new underground bus garage – (Credit – David Floys)

London Fire Brigade (LFB) has contacted Barnet Council the day before a crucial vote to request changes to the planning conditions for a controversial development.

The fire authority has informed Barnet Post that it got in touch with the council yesterday to request an amendment to the draft conditions for the Outline Planning Application for the Broadwalk Shopping Centre development in Edgware, a joint venture between Transport for London (TfL) and developers Ballymore, which will be considered by the council’s strategic planning committee tonight.

Barnet Post reported yesterday on widespread concerns about the underground bus garage that forms a major part of the controversial 3,828 home development in Edgware town centre.

While the draft planning conditions produced by council officers ahead of the meeting were clear on the strict conditions that would need to met before electric buses would be allowed to enter the garage, the LFB has now intervened to make clear that these conditions should apply to all buses, including diesel-powered vehicles.

In the original draft planning conditions, condition 17, Fire Safety Strategy stated: “Prior to the usage of the bus garage by electric vehicles (EV), a Fire Safety Strategy shall be submitted to and agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority, in consultation with the London Fire Brigade Electric vehicles shall not enter the garage until the Strategy has been approved and the development shall be implemented in accordance with the approved Strategy. / Reason: To ensure that the development incorporates the necessary fire safety measures in accordance with Policy D12 of the London Plan (2021).”

LFB told Barnet Post that they had contacted the council yesterday to request that the wording of the condition was amended to read: “Prior to the usage of the bus garage by buses of any type (electric vehicles (EV) or internal combustion engine vehicles (ICE), a Fire Safety Strategy shall be submitted to and agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority, in consultation with the London Fire Brigade. Buses shall not enter the garage until the Strategy has been approved and the development shall be implemented in accordance with the approved Strategy. / Reason: To ensure that the development incorporates the necessary fire safety measures in accordance with Policy D12 of the London Plan (2021).”

The fire authority said that Barnet Council had accepted the amendment.

An LFB spokesperson told Barnet Post: “To be clear, LFB requests that a Fire Safety Strategy be agreed prior to any type of bus (EV or ICE) entering the proposed garage.”

Responding to Barnet Post’s original queries about the approach to the garage within the committee documents, Barnet Council’s response (on Thursday 17th July) was: “We don’t comment on reports ahead of being discussed at committee, as this will be next week.”

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