We must get big developments right

Finchley and Golders Green MP Sarah Sackman responds to this week’s decision by the Deputy Mayor of London to give the go ahead to the Great North Leisure Park development

Finchley and Golders Green MP Sarah Sackman (credit gov.uk)

Growing up in Finchley, I lost count of the number of birthday parties spent at the Great North Leisure Park bowling, watching films or swimming. Today it remains a venue loved by many families and young people.

But I also know how hard it is as a young person to get on the property ladder and that, for many, it can feel like an unattainable dream. Whether it is families living in insecure sub standard housing, or parents worried about their children’s chance of owning a secure home, housing is one of the issues I hear about most as your MP.

This is why it is crucial that we get the balance right between protecting community spaces and building more affordable homes.

The future of the Great North Leisure Park is a site where this balance is being tested. In my view, the site is large enough to accommodate significant new housing and leisure facilities and should be redeveloped – however it is vital that the plans are right for our community both today and tomorrow.

This week, the Deputy Mayor of London decided to approve the current development for the site. Like many of you I am disappointed.

I objected to these plans to both Barnet Council, which rightly refused planning permission, and then again with City Hall.

I have made clear throughout the process that my three tests for this development are that it delivers maximum affordable housing; that public transport and infrastructure is increased; and that the lido and leisure facilities are upgraded for the community with no loss of provision. As things stand, the proposals do not meet these tests.

Whilst I am disappointed, I am not disheartened and am determined to keep fighting to get the very best for residents.

I will be pushing the Mayor of London and developers to ensure we get more affordable housing built than has been promised. I will campaign for more money to be set aside for more frequent buses and better routes for local people across Finchley. It is right that City Hall has demanded that the developer must increase their funding towards increased transport services. Finally I will hold the developers’ feet to the fire to ensure that the community lido and leisure centre delivers for local people.

It is crucial that when plans for big developments come along, we get them right, think about long-term inclusive place-making and that they make our area a better place to live and work.

North Finchley is a brilliant area – with excellent schools, parks and a cultural offering, with the artsdepot at the heart of it. When they were facing closure, I wrote to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and helped them secure a lease at fifty year peppercorn rent, securing their long-term future in North Finchley. But time and time again residents tell me that they do not want to spend time on our high streets.

It is no secret that the high street has been in decline for years; with consumer habits changing and previous governments failing to invest where it is needed. But I know that residents want to have high streets that they feel proud of, where they can do their shopping, visit local restaurants, pubs and cafes, and spend time with friends and family.

I am committed to changing this and my team and I have set up a North Finchley High Road Improvement Group so we can hear directly from residents about what they want to see and deliver on this.

If we want to make real improvements to our built environment and high streets, they must be shaped by the community for the community.

I will keep pushing to ensure that the development of Great North Leisure Park delivers for residents, makes material improvements to North Finchley and helps all of us to feel pride in our area.

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