The Strategic Planning Committee of Barnet Council met on Wednesday 17 January 2024 and approved a significant residential development at 679 High Road, West Finchley. The committee also agreed the minutes of the previous meeting.

679 High Road, London N12 0DA - 23/4026/FUL

The committee approved the demolition of the existing Homebase store and redevelopment of the site at 679 High Road, London N12 0DA to provide 149 residential units. The development will consist of three-storey houses and four-storey apartment blocks, along with new pedestrian access, private and communal amenity space, refuse storage, 38 car parking spaces, and 276 cycle parking spaces.

The decision to approve was made subject to amendments to Condition 12 and the addition of Condition 36. Condition 12 was amended to ensure the 3m high boundary wall between the rear of properties on Rosemont Avenue remains in perpetuity and to detail the provision of hedgehog and toad highways. Condition 36 was added to restrict permitted development rights for houses in Terrace 5 backing onto Nos. 1-27 Rosemont Avenue, specifically to safeguard the amenities of neighbouring occupiers, the health of adjacent TPO trees, and the general locality.

The application was presented with a recommendation for approval, subject to a Section 106 agreement. The agent for the applicant, Mr Jon Murch, addressed the committee. The committee voted 9 in favour of approval with 0 against and 0 abstentions.

The development aims to redevelop a brownfield site, providing much-needed housing, including a good proportion of three and four-bedroom family houses. It is also intended to support the vitality and viability of North Finchley Town Centre by creating a pedestrianised 'living street' with landscaping and play equipment. The proposal also achieves a biodiversity net gain of 216.66%.

Concerns raised during public consultation and by consultees included the development's impact on the character of the area, potential overdevelopment, height, density, lack of affordable housing, overlooking, loss of outlook, sunlight obstruction, loss of privacy, wind tunnel effects, insufficient parking, inappropriate access, increased congestion, strain on infrastructure, and the removal of trees. The Finchley Society, in particular, raised concerns about privacy, the number of single-aspect flats, inadequate storage in some units, and the limited car parking provision. They also highlighted issues with the proposed access from Christchurch Avenue, suggesting the High Road entrance was more suitable.

However, the planning officer's report detailed how many of these concerns had been addressed through revised plans and conditions. The development's design was considered to relate well to the human scale and the surrounding context, with the height and massing of the buildings considered acceptable for the edge-of-centre location. The provision of 149 residential units contributes to the borough's housing targets, and the mix of units, including family homes and smaller flats, was deemed appropriate for the location and market demand. The report also noted that the development would achieve a significant biodiversity net gain and incorporate carbon dioxide emission reduction measures.

The decision to approve was made after balancing the identified benefits against any potential harm, concluding that the public benefits outweighed the low level of harm to the setting of the adjacent locally listed building at 677a High Road.