The Strategic Planning Committee of Barnet Council met on Thursday 04 September 2025, with Councillor Nigel Young in the chair. The committee granted planning permission for a 12-storey mixed-use development at 1-4 Shakespeare Road, London N3 1XE, subject to a Section 106 agreement and conditions, and also approved reserved matters for the development of 130 affordable residential units for NHS key workers on land adjacent to Finchley Memorial Hospital, Granville Road, North Finchley, London N12 0JE.

Petition: Save the mature birch trees opposite East Finchley station

The committee noted a petition to save five mature silver birch trees opposite East Finchley station. Roger Chapman, chair of the Friends of Cherry Tree Wood and the Barnet Greenspaces Network, presented the petition. He highlighted the trees' importance as a welcome feature of East Finchley and their contribution to the local landscape and the council's environmental commitments. The committee was informed that Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) had already been granted for these five trees. Consequently, the committee agreed to take no further action on the petition, with the Chair requesting officers to confirm when the TPOs have been officially confirmed.

1-4 Shakespeare Road, London N3 1XE - 23/2342/FUL

The committee granted planning permission for the demolition of existing buildings and the construction of a new 12-storey mixed-use development at 1-4 Shakespeare Road, London N3 1XE. The development will comprise a hotel with 238 guest rooms, ancillary facilities, a nursery, and office space, along with public realm improvements, cycle parking, servicing, and plant areas.

Councillor Ross Houston, Ward Councillor for West Finchley, addressed the committee, welcoming the retention of the Avinash Chandra mural and acknowledging the amendments made to the original proposals. However, he raised concerns about the impact on light for neighbouring properties, particularly at 7 Shakespeare Road, and the visual impact on streets like The Grove. He also urged the developer to focus public realm improvements on areas affected by anti-social behaviour and traffic, and to manage construction with minimal impact on residents.

Rajiv Agarwalla, speaking in objection, argued that the third-party daylight report relied upon by officers was based on an earlier, lower scheme and used incorrect data. He stated that the proposed building would block a significant amount of light to 7 Shakespeare Road, severely impacting residents' well-being. He also raised concerns about the transport assessment, suggesting it was flawed and did not adequately address existing congestion on Shakespeare Road.

Hannah Brady, a resident of 7 Shakespeare Road, also objected, detailing the devastating impact the proposal would have on residents' homes and quality of life. She highlighted the severe light reduction, loss of privacy, and the potential for increased traffic, noise, and disturbance. She argued that the scale of the development was out of character and that the proposal failed to protect residents from loss of light, privacy, and amenity.

Benjamin Aaron, the applicant, presented the scheme, emphasising its potential to regenerate the area, create jobs, and provide much-needed hotel and nursery accommodation. He highlighted the extensive engagement with stakeholders and the amendments made to the design, including height reductions and the restoration of the Avinash Chandra mural. He stated that the scheme would deliver significant public benefits, including job creation, increased local expenditure, and improved public realm.

Following extensive discussion, the committee voted to grant planning permission, subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement and conditions. Amendments were agreed to the Section 106 agreement to include provisions for public realm improvements and a wider area public realm plan. Conditions were also added regarding fenestration on lower floors to protect neighbouring properties from overlooking, and on vehicle servicing to manage congestion and provide for taxis and deliveries. The application was referred to the Mayor of London.

Land Adjacent to Finchley Memorial Hospital, Granville Road, North Finchley, London, N12 0JE - 24/4315/RMA

The committee granted reserved matters approval for the development of 130 affordable residential units for NHS key workers on land adjacent to Finchley Memorial Hospital. The approval covers details of scale, layout, appearance, and landscaping, following an outline planning permission granted in 2021.

Councillor Ross Houston, Ward Councillor for West Finchley, acknowledged that this was a reserved matters application and that the principle of development had already been established. He welcomed the engagement with the developer and the improvements made to the scheme, noting it was a better proposal than the original. However, he raised concerns about the affordability of the housing, stating that 95% would be at 80% of market rent, which he felt was not affordable for many NHS staff. He urged the developer to improve the affordability and increase the proportion of social housing. He also highlighted urban design comments regarding the need for more detailed design elements and better-defined entrances.

Jennie Arthur, speaking in objection, argued that four storeys was too high for the area and that the transport links were poor. She stated that the proposed rents were unaffordable for many NHS key workers, with rents consuming over 50% of take-home pay for nurses. She urged the committee to reduce the scale to three storeys and incorporate urban design comments as conditions.

Jonathan Jonas, also objecting, questioned the traffic modelling, the affordability of the housing mix, and the compliance with local policy regarding distances between properties. He requested that the Quality Review Panel re-examine the proposals and that further public consultation be undertaken.

David Holmes, the applicant's agent, highlighted that the development was the first of its kind, providing affordable housing for NHS key workers on NHS land without relying on government grants. He stated that the scheme would offer significant savings compared to open market rents and that the 100% rented accommodation, with 5% social rent, was an enhancement over the outline consent. He emphasised the positive evolution of the proposals through engagement with officers and residents.

The committee discussed the affordability of the housing, the provision of social rent, and the design details. They unanimously agreed to add an informative to condition 2 reflecting urban design comments and to amend condition 14 to require the applicant to achieve Secure by Design accreditation. The committee then voted to grant reserved matters approval, acknowledging that they were bound by the original outline permission but had sought to maximise improvements within the reserved matters scope.

The meeting concluded at 10:04 pm.