TfL wins battle to build 300 homes on High Barnet tube station car park

Plans for approximately 300 homes next to High Barnet tube station were approved after multiple planning stages and a Mayor of London review. The proposal would place 40% affordable housing on the car park and light industrial land south of the station. The local council rejected an earlier application, and the scheme was later called in for review when it exceeded 150 homes. A public hearing at the GLA heard objections focused on building height and loss of car parking, including concerns raised by Theresa Villiers. Developers argued that affordable housing delivery required taller blocks and cited low car-park usage and available public transport alternatives. The Deputy Mayor approved the scheme, citing affordable housing delivery challenges and London viability pressures.

"Plans to build blocks of flats next to High Barnet tube station, which have been variously revised, refused, reviewed and finally referred to the Mayor of London, have been approved. The plan, the second attempt to build next to the tube station, was put forward by TfL's property arm, Places for London and Barratt Homes, would have seen approximately 300 new homes, including 40% affordable homes, built on the car park and on the light industrial land to the south of the station."

"Most of the objections were focused on the height of the buildings and the loss of the car parking spaces. Former MP, Theresa Villiers, also turned up to object to the scheme, having previously objected to the Cockfosters' station development. The developers argued that delivering 40 per cent of the site as affordable housing required a higher number of flats in total, and hence the taller blocks to be built."

"On the car parking issue, according to the developer survey, 8% of commuters use the car park, and of the 42% of commuters living within 2.5km of the station, 89% have a bus route alternative. The geographical spread of commuters living farther away is high, and it was noted that the majority have an alternative tube or rail station closer to them. After hearing both sides, the Deputy Mayor retired to consider his decision and sided with the developers."

"In his ruling, he said that the challenges of delivering affordable housing in a time when "many developments face significant viability issues in London, driven by national and international events that continue to have a negative economic impact.""

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