Groups campaigning against proposals for 2,316 new homes in Edgware have put their questions to Barnet Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC).
In January’s STANMORE&EDGWAREnews, we reported that Site 28 in Barnet Council’s Local Plan forms two-thirds of Ballymore’s Broadwalk development. The plan includes a total of 3,365 homes on Station Road.
The proposal also includes a new high-rise tower on the site of Edgware’s main bus station, making Station Road the area’s new hub.
Amid protests and thousands of objections, campaign group Save Our Edgware (SOE) joined the Edgware Community Association at the OSC meeting on Thursday, January 30.
SOE issued a statement after the meeting to say they found the response from the OSC to be “weak” and called the potential transport replacement for the bus station “inadequate”.
The group said: “The OSC passed responsibility to Cabinet and Full Council rather than exercising meaningful scrutiny.
“They should have recommended removing Site 28 from the Local Plan and demand a proper review of transport and fire safety concerns.”
SOE claims there have been nearly 500 emails from residents opposing Site 28’s inclusion in the Local Plan.
SOE said: “Despite the Local Plan being 1,400-plus pages, the committee spent just seven minutes discussing it.”
A spokesperson for the development said: “We are aware of the recent OSC meeting and the discussions around the Local Plan.
“While council meetings, the Local Plan and allocations within it are the responsibility of Barnet Council, we are proud of the proposals we are bringing forward for Edgware Town Centre.
“The project will see £1.7billion invested in the town centre over a 10-year period and will deliver 3,365 homes (including 1,150 affordable homes) and 460 student accommodation spaces at a time when London needs new housing more than ever.
“After more than four years of consultation and engagement on the proposals, meeting thousands of people, we look forward to the consideration of our outline planning application by Barnet Council later this year.”
Barnet Council has been contacted for comment.
Photo credit: Save Our Edgware on Facebook
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