The Planning Committee of Barnet Council met on Wednesday 15 July 2026, approving three significant planning applications. These included the expansion of Queenswell Infant and Nursery School to provide much-needed SEND places, the installation of an Eruv in Hadley Wood, and substantial amendments to the Silkstream development in Hyde Estate Road, which will deliver hundreds of additional homes and significantly increase social housing provision.

Queenswell Infant and Nursery School Expansion

The committee unanimously approved plans for the erection of a single-storey modular nursery building and a temporary five-year SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) classroom block at Queenswell Infant and Nursery School in Whetstone. This development aims to address an urgent demand for specialist SEND places, with officers highlighting that 35 children with complex needs currently lack appropriate school places. The proposal will deliver 35 urgently needed SEND school places. While the development involves the temporary loss of open space, officers deemed the benefits of the scheme to outweigh this harm. Mitigation measures for construction working hours and noise were discussed and secured through conditions.

Hadley Wood Eruv Installation

Plans for the establishment of an Eruv¹ in Hadley Wood were unanimously approved. The application involved the installation of poles, connecting wires, steel tubular arches, and posts at three locations: Hadley Common, Bakers Hill near the railway bridge, and at the Cromer Road/Lawton Road tunnel entrance. The Eruv is a religious boundary that allows observant Jewish people to carry items on the Sabbath. Concerns were raised by objectors regarding visual intrusion, impact on the character of the Monken Hadley Conservation Area, and pedestrian safety on narrow pavements. However, officers noted that the principle of Eruvs is well-established in Barnet, and the proposed structures were designed to be discreet and mimic existing street furniture. The benefits to the Jewish community, particularly for those with mobility impairments, were considered significant, outweighing the limited harm to the Green Belt and heritage assets.

Unit 4 Hyde Estate Road Development Amendments

The committee unanimously approved significant amendments to the Silkstream development at Unit 4 Hyde Estate Road. This Section 73 application sought variations to existing planning conditions to allow for an increase of 227 homes, bringing the total to 1,564. Crucially, the amendments will significantly increase the provision of Social Rent affordable housing, from 114 units to 286 units, while maintaining the overall affordable housing percentage at 34.5%. The approved scheme will now deliver 519 affordable homes in total, with a greater emphasis on Social Rent.

The amendments also involve an increase in building heights in Phase 2, with Blocks B10 and B11 rising to 29 storeys. These changes were supported by updated design assessments, including a revised Built Heritage, Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment, which concluded that the increased height would be acceptable within the evolving urban context of the A5 corridor. The revised masterplan also introduces greater permeability and an enhanced public realm, including an expanded central park, Silk Gardens.

Concerns raised by objectors regarding building height, residential amenity, and infrastructure impacts were addressed by officers, who concluded that the proposed changes would not result in unacceptable harm. The increase in Social Rent provision was highlighted as a significant public benefit. The application was also subject to a Stage 2 referral to the Mayor of London.