Huge 1,500-home scheme in north London rejected following 'overdevelopment' fears

"The comprehensive redevelopment of Great North Leisure Park was proposed to include 20 buildings, the tallest of which would reach 25 storeys tall, as well as incorporating a new leisure centre. The proposal, put forward by Regal London, designated 25% of the new homes as affordable by total habitable rooms, equating to 341 homes. However, a petition this summer calling for a halt to the development received nearly 8,000 signatures."

"She described the tower blocks as overbearing on the landscape and said the application would be more suited to a town centre. Cllr Hutton acknowledged some residential would be suitable but currently the plan was too dense. She said: We need the housing, when I first looked at this a year ago I did say we need the housing, but not at any cost. Like I've said, the density, the environment and also the poor transport links lead me to think this is too much"

Councillors rejected a comprehensive redevelopment of Great North Leisure Park that proposed up to 1,500 homes, a new leisure centre and 20 buildings, the tallest up to 25 storeys. The proposal by Regal London allocated 25% of homes as affordable by habitable rooms, equating to 341 units. Nearly 8,000 people signed a petition opposing the scheme. Local councillor Anne Hutton described the tower blocks as overbearing and said the plan was too dense given poor transport links. MP Sarah Sackman called for genuinely affordable housing, upgraded public transport and protection of local provision. Existing leisure facilities would be demolished without comparable on-site replacements, though a nearby alternative development with a cinema and bowling alley was approved.

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