The Planning Committee of Barnet Council met on Monday 21 July 2025. Key decisions included the approval of applications for electric vehicle (EV) charging points at 828-830 High Road, East Finchley, and 862-868 High Road, Woodhouse. The committee also approved a change of use for the basement, lower ground floor, and ground floor of 12-18 High Road, East Finchley, to retail or office use. Applications for significant roof extensions at 38 and 40 Golders Manor Drive and 16 Hillside Gardens were refused due to concerns about their impact on the character and appearance of the area.

EV Charging Points Approved on High Road

The committee approved applications for the installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging points with integrated LCD screens at 828-830 High Road¹ in East Finchley and 862-868 High Road² in Woodhouse. The applications were for JOLT charging units. Despite objections regarding street clutter, visual impact, and energy consumption, the committee voted to approve both applications. Officers noted that the dual functionality of the units reduces street clutter and that the units are designed to be sympathetic to their surroundings. Concerns about the contract with JOLT regarding low-cost charging were deemed outside the scope of the planning application.

Change of Use Approved for 12-18 High Road, East Finchley

The committee approved the change of use for the basement, lower ground floor, and ground floor of 12-18 High Road³, East Finchley, from office space to retail (Class E(a)) or financial/professional services/office (Class E(c) or (g)(i)). This decision followed a period where the commercial space had remained unoccupied since the building's completion. The committee accepted that a broader Class E use would contribute to the vitality of the town centre and create an active street frontage. Conditions were imposed to restrict the specific uses within Class E to mitigate potential amenity impacts on the residential units above, and to control opening hours and delivery times. Objections from local residents included concerns about waste management, potential traffic from deliveries, and the impact on pedestrian safety.

Refusal of Significant Roof Extension Applications

Two applications for substantial roof extensions were refused by the committee.

At 38 and 40 Golders Manor Drive⁴, the proposal for roof extensions, including hip-to-gable conversions, rear dormer windows, and first-floor rear infill extensions, was refused. The committee agreed with officers that the cumulative scale, bulk, and design of the proposed extensions would result in a dominant and incongruous addition, failing to respect the character of the semi-detached properties and the wider locality. The committee found the proposal to be an overdevelopment of the site.

Similarly, the application for a roof extension at 16 Hillside Gardens⁵, Edgware, was refused. This included hip-to-gable extensions, a rear dormer with a Juliet balcony, front-facing rooflights, and a change to the roof of a first-floor side extension. Officers recommended refusal, citing that the proposed extensions would be unduly bulky, visually obtrusive, and incongruous, failing to respect the character of the host dwelling and the surrounding area. The committee noted that similar proposals had been refused multiple times previously, and that the current proposal exceeded permitted development limits for roof space increases.

Other Decisions

The committee also considered an application for the felling of an oak tree at 83 Marsh Lane⁶, which was refused. An application for a single-storey side and rear extension at 87 Birkbeck Road⁷ was approved.