New housing project aims to transform High Barnet Station area with 300 homes
High Barnet: So, there’s this big plan to build 300 homes right next to the tube station. It’s got folks talking, especially about the parking situation.
Developers Barratt London and Transport for London want to put up four blocks of flats on the car park, which has 160 spaces. That’s a lot of parking spots gone!
This project is part of a larger plan to create over 4,000 new homes on land that isn’t being used much. They’re also aiming for about half of those homes to be affordable.
They’re planning to submit the application to Barnet Council in spring 2025. But before that, they’ll hold more chats with locals to get their thoughts.
Robin Bishop from the Barnet Society, who lives nearby, mentioned that while some housing is fine, losing the entire car park isn’t sitting well with people.
The idea is to make this development ‘car-free’ to push residents to use public transport, with only a few spots for disabled drivers.
Robin also raised concerns about the ground stability around the station. He’s worried about creating a community that’s safe and not on shaky ground.
He asked, “What do the locals and station users really gain from this?”
He’s also worried that the station and roads might struggle with all the new residents coming in.
He pointed out that while the area has its charm, the transport links aren’t great right now.
Robin believes the project could be disruptive in the short and long term. He thinks we should at least get a transport hub that’s modern and accessible.
On the flip side, Places for London sees this as a chance to improve the station and meet the need for affordable housing in the area.
Jonathan Cornelius, who’s in charge of property development, said this is a big opportunity to enhance the station and provide quality homes, including 40% affordable ones.
Alastair Butcher from Barratt London mentioned this is their fourth project with Places for London. He’s excited about the potential to create well-designed homes that fit into the community.
He’s looking forward to chatting with locals and making sure this project benefits everyone involved.