Our North Finchley is demanding the rejection of developer Regal’s plans for the town centre and Great North Leisure Park reports David Floyd

A large group of people in church hall sitting round tables — The Our North Finchley launch event – (Credit – Tas from JMA Photography)

A hundred North Finchley residents got together at the end of last month to launch a campaign for alternatives to housing plans for the area.

Our North Finchley, which had its launch meeting on July 30th at St Albans Church Hall in Nether Street, is demanding: “the rejection of Regal JP’s applications for the demolition and redevelopment of North Finchley town centre and the Great North Leisure Park.”

Criticising the developer’s plans it adds: “These poorly designed proposals should be replaced with schemes that meet the needs of the community and provide affordable and social housing, without destroying the character of the town centre or the future welfare of residents and small businesses.”

The group is demanding: “Withdrawal of the Masterplan application by Regal JP and rejection of the Great North Leisure Park application by Barnet Council” and wants instead to see: “Creation of a new, community-led vision based on what residents actually want and need.”

The campaign quotes residents who attended the meeting as saying of the plans: “They’ve tried to push this through quietly, but tonight proves the community is wide awake” and “North Finchley deserves regeneration, but it must be built with us, not against us”.

And adds, in a statement following the meeting that “there was strong agreement that the proposals prioritise developer profits and help the council meet arbitrary targets, rather than responding to the actual housing needs of local people”.

Responding to Our North Finchley’s demands, Ghislaine Halpenny, director of corporate affairs, people and sustainability at Regal outlined the benefits of the company’s plans and defended its record on consultation.

Of the North Finchley town centre plans, she told Barnet Post: “We are bringing over 850 much-needed new homes to the heart of the town centre, including affordable housing, helping to meet growing local demand and supporting the shops, services and businesses that rely on footfall to survive.”

“Located on previously developed land with strong transport links and low car use, the development promotes walking, cycling, and public transport, making it a truly sustainable investment in the future of the town.”

She added: “The proposals for Great North Leisure Park deliver lasting public benefit, bringing new homes, jobs, public space, and an outstanding new leisure centre to a brownfield site that has long been underused and dominated by car parking.

“At the heart of the plans is a new publicly owned leisure centre significantly larger and better equipped than the current facilities including both indoor and outdoor facilities.

“With net zero operational carbon emissions and a design that prioritises walking, cycling and public transport, this is a genuinely sustainable development – and a major opportunity to secure long-term benefits for Barnet residents now and in the future.”

Describing Regal’s approach to consultation, she outlined the company’s extensive engagement activities from delivering newsletters to households in the area, to in-person exhibitions and conversations with a wide range of local stakeholders.

She said: “We have made community engagement a central part of our approach to both the Great North Leisure Park and North Finchley masterplan proposals, ensuring that local residents have had meaningful opportunities to help shape the emerging plans from the outset.

“In both projects, consultation has not been a one-off exercise but an ongoing dialogue. We are committed to continuing this engagement throughout the planning process and into delivery, ensuring local residents remain at the heart of these proposals.”

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