The Planning Committee of Barnet Council met on Wednesday 11 March 2026, confirming a Tree Preservation Order for an oak tree at 64 Kingsley Way, approving a four-flat development at 26 Renters Avenue, and granting permission for a change of use to a five-bedroom House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) at 48 Babington Road. The committee refused an application for the retention of a change of use and associated works at 52 Greenfield Gardens due to concerns about the impact of raised garden levels on neighbouring amenities.

64 Kingsley Way, London N2 0EW

The committee confirmed a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) for a mature oak tree at 64 Kingsley Way, London N2 0EW. The tree, located in the Hampstead Garden Suburb, was identified as having veteran tree features, including a significant cavity and a historic lean, and was considered to be of high visual and ecological value. While the applicant, Mr. James Grant, argued the tree posed a safety risk due to decay and a lightning strike, citing independent arboricultural assessments classifying it as a Category C tree with limited life expectancy, officers maintained the tree was stable and could be managed through crown reduction rather than felling. The council's assessment, using the Tree Evaluation Method For Preservation Orders (TEMPO), scored the tree highly, indicating it Definitely merits TPO . The decision to confirm the TPO was made by a vote of four in favour to two against.

26 Renters Avenue, London NW4 3RB

Permission was granted for the demolition of the existing dwelling at 26 Renters Avenue, London NW4 3RB, and the erection of a new two-storey building with a basement, light wells, and rooms in the roof space to provide four self-contained flats. The proposal also includes a rear outbuilding, amenity space, refuse and recycling storage, parking, and cycle storage. This application was a resubmission of previous refused schemes, with amendments made to the internal layouts of the basement units to address concerns about light and outlook. The agent, Emily Benedict, highlighted that the footprint of the development was consistent with previously approved schemes. The committee voted five in favour with one abstention to approve the application, subject to a Section 106 agreement for contributions towards trees, street trees, and monitoring.

52 Greenfield Gardens, NW2 1HX

The committee refused an application for the retention of a change of use from two to three self-contained flats, along with associated refuse storage, cycle parking, off-street car parking, alterations to the rear garden layout, retention of fencing, new internal fencing, a maintenance footpath, and the retention of an outbuilding for ancillary use at 52 Greenfield Gardens, NW2 1HX. The refusal was based on the grounds that the raised garden levels, associated fencing, and the resultant height of the outbuilding were detrimental to the visual amenities of the occupiers of the neighbouring property at 50 Greenfield Gardens. This decision was reached by a vote of five against approval and one abstention, with Councillor Claire Farrier proposing the refusal.

48 Babington Road, London NW4 4LD

Permission was granted for the change of use from a single dwellinghouse to a five-bedroom House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) at 48 Babington Road, London NW4 4LD. The application was retrospective, and the property already benefits from an HMO licence. The committee noted that the site had an improved Public Transport Accessibility Level (PTAL) of 4, and that the proposed HMO would not create a harmful concentration of such uses in the local area. The proposal was considered to meet identified needs, particularly given its proximity to Middlesex University, and would not have a harmful impact on the character and amenities of the surrounding area. The committee voted unanimously in favour of approval, subject to conditions.