Campaign group Save Our Edgware (SOE) has criticised Barnet Council’s draft Local Plan and its allocation of 2,316 homes to a site in the area.
The site listed on the plan forms two-thirds of Ballymore’s Broadwalk development application for 3,365 homes on Station Road.
According to SOE spokesperson Anuta Zack, the approval of site 28 would make it one of the densest residential developments in the UK.
The plan has received more than 2,100 objections on the planning portal, as well criticism from the London Fire Brigade and the Environment Agency.
SOE said the main reasons for concern include the plan’s fire safety risks in a proposed underground electric vehicle bus garage, environmental damage in building on Deans Brook Nature Reserve, and transport disruption from removing Edgware’s main bus station and making Station Road the area’s hub.
Anuta said: “We believe it exemplifies the consequences of Labour’s rush to meet ambitious housing targets while disregarding community concerns, safety and sustainability.”
A spokesperson for the development said: “While the Local Plan and allocations within it are the responsibility of Barnet Council, we are proud of the proposals we are bringing forward.
“The project will see £1.7billion invested in the town centre over a 10-year period and will deliver 3,365 new homes (including 1,150 affordable homes) and 460 student accommodation spaces. In addition, it would create nearly 1,500 new full-time local jobs, generating circa £3million annually in spending within the local area.
“The densities outlined in the proposal are not unprecedented, indeed the scheme would not be the densest scheme in Barnet let alone London.
“The bus garage will not be operational until 2030 at the earliest and no electric vehicles will be permitted unless the design has been approved by the London Fire Brigade, Barnet Council, the Health & Safety Executive and Building Control.
“Since 2020, we have met more than 3,300 members of the community. While we appreciate there are objections, we have been really encouraged by the significant levels of support alongside this. Independent local sentiment polling indicates 70 per cent of those polled thought the plans will have a positive impact on Edgware.”
Barnet Council has been contacted for comment.
Photo credit: Save our Edgware
I object to the proposed size of the building work. I think that it will be awkward not to have a proper underground station. Causing terrible traffic disruption. Also, how dangerous a electric underground terminal will be. There are no proposals for new doctors clinics or schools. The high street already has too much traffic. I agree with the protests of the anticampain for the proposal for the size of the proposal.
they fail to mention there is 1 access road to the development which will snarl traffic hopelessly for a decade
There will be not enough schools hospital spaces Barnet hospital a and e already at breaking point! Dr’s surgeries as well as the danger to anyone living over or near bus garage and underground station electric s etc plus how are the fire bregade going to get people out of such high buildings?, it will ruin Edgware it will look like manhattan or Colingdale horrible we do Not Want it here and I’m sure I speak for the majority of residents in surrounding area