The Planning Committee of Barnet Council met on Wednesday 4 September 2024. The committee approved seven planning applications and one application was approved following a tied vote where the Chair used her casting vote. These included a reserved matters application for landscaping at 49 and 51 Beresford Avenue, a change of use for Antian House to a children's home, and a new children's home at 49 St James Avenue. The committee also approved variations to conditions for a golf course at Land West of Edgwarebury Farm, an extension to Roman House for health facilities, a single-storey rear outbuilding at 61 Finchley Lane, a change of use for a restaurant and retail unit at 811 High Road, and the conversion of a building into three flats at 138 High Road.

Land at 49 and 51 Beresford Avenue

The committee approved a reserved matters application for landscaping at 49 and 51 Beresford Avenue¹. This application concerned the details of landscaping for a previously approved development of six semi-detached dwellings. Despite significant objections from residents concerning safety, particularly regarding railway tunnel air shafts, and the adequacy of the landscaping scheme, the committee voted to approve the application. The arguments against approval focused on unresolved safety concerns and the perceived inadequacy of the landscaping details provided. However, the officers' recommendation for approval was based on the conclusion that the landscaping details complied with the requirements of the outline planning permission and would represent a high-quality scheme. The application was approved following a tied vote where the Chair used her casting vote.

Antian House, 4A Rundell Crescent

A change of use application for Antian House¹ to become a residential children's care home for three children was approved. This decision was made despite objections from local residents who raised concerns about the character of the street, potential increases in crime and anti-social behaviour, traffic, noise, and property values. The applicant, Afa Asefa, director of the children's home provider, stated that they had no female children residing there and that their placements were for children aged 10-15, not adults. He also clarified that police had been called by the home itself on occasion to assist with managing young people, but not due to neighbour complaints. The committee's decision was based on the identified need for local placements for Barnet's looked-after children and the applicant's assurances regarding management and staffing.

49 St James Avenue

The committee approved an application for a change of use at 49 St James Avenue¹ to a children's home for three children, aged typically between 11 and 14 years old. This decision was made despite 150 objections from local residents who raised concerns about the loss of a family dwelling, the principle of the use in a residential area, substandard living conditions for children, inadequate staffing arrangements, and poor public transport accessibility. The applicant, Brigitte Jordaan, Director of Children's Social Care, highlighted the national shortage of foster carers and local placements, emphasizing Barnet Council's commitment to keeping children within the borough. She also noted the council's outstanding Ofsted rating for services to children in care. The committee was assured that the home would be managed by experienced staff and that children would be supported by a professional team.

Land West of Edgwarebury Farm

A variation of condition 4 relating to the levels of an approved 18-hole golf course at Land West of Edgwarebury Farm¹ was approved, subject to a Section 106 agreement. The amendments were primarily for safety reasons concerning specific holes on the course. Objections raised included concerns about the impact on the Green Belt, character of the site, ecology, arboriculture, highway network, and the potential for a hotel to be built. The officer's report noted that the golf course use is considered appropriate in the Green Belt and that the proposed level changes were minor and did not significantly alter the previously approved assessment. The Section 106 agreement will address matters such as travel plan contributions, ecological management, and securing a suitable location for an equestrian business.

Roman House, 296 Golders Green Road

An application for a part four, part five-storey side and rear extension to Roman House¹ for health facility use was approved, subject to a legal agreement. The proposal aims to expand the existing diagnostic and outpatient centre, which is supported by The Wellington Hospital, and potentially accommodate a local NHS GP surgery. Objections raised concerns about overlooking, loss of privacy, visual intrusion, loss of light, noise from air conditioning units, impact on trees, flooding risk, and the design's impact on the area's character. The officer's report concluded that the design was acceptable, subordinate to the original building, and that separation distances and landscaping would mitigate impacts on neighbouring amenities. The legal agreement will address travel plan contributions, CPZ contributions, and carbon offset contributions.

1 Daphne Close

A part single, part two-storey rear extension at 1 Daphne Close¹ was approved. Objections from neighbours included concerns about the impact on natural habitat, the garden becoming more claustrophobic, loss of a tree, overlooking, loss of privacy, loss of light, noise, unacceptable impact on character, pollution, and inadequate window positioning. The officer's assessment concluded that the extension was appropriately distanced and designed to respect neighbouring amenities and the character of the area. A condition was attached for replacement tree planting.

61 Finchley Lane

A single-storey rear outbuilding at 61 Finchley Lane¹ was approved, subject to conditions. This application was part retrospective, meaning part of the building had already been constructed. The proposal had faced multiple previous refusals due to excessive footprint, size, scale, depth, and height, and concerns about its impact on neighbouring amenities. Objectors argued that little had changed from previous applications and that the committee should not reward the applicant's alleged bad behaviour. The agent for the applicant, Joel Gray, stated that the building had been scaled down and repositioned to address concerns. The committee's decision to approve was made after a tied vote, with the Chair using her casting vote in favour.

811 High Road

The committee approved a change of use application for 811 High Road¹ to create a new restaurant and a smaller retail unit, including alterations to the shop front and the installation of a rear extraction flue. This decision was made despite numerous objections from residents concerned about the proliferation of fast-food outlets, potential litter, vermin, increased traffic from delivery drivers, health risks to schoolchildren, noise, and pollution. The applicant, Arul Nesam, director of Bus Periperi Limited, stated the business would offer healthy grilled food and create local jobs. Officers noted that the proposal was for a restaurant (for on-site consumption) rather than a hot food takeaway, and that noise and odour management plans were satisfactory, subject to conditions.

138 High Road

A proposal to convert the existing building at 138 High Road¹ into three self-contained flats, including first and second-floor rear extensions, was approved. This application had been refused previously by the committee, with the decision currently under appeal. The revised scheme proposed a reduction in size and the number of occupants. Objections raised concerns about the impact on a neighbouring yoga business, sewage systems, loss of light and outlook, privacy, parking, bin storage, and odour. The officer's report highlighted that the current scheme had reduced the scale and depth of the extensions compared to the previous refusal, and that amenity impacts on neighbours were considered acceptable. The applicant agreed to a Section 106 agreement to mitigate highway and car parking impacts.