The Planning Inspector in the Victoria Quarter inquiry for the former East Barnet gasworks site scheme has rejected the developer’s appeal of ‘non-determination’.

Barnet’s Planning Committee decision to refuse the application for 539 residential units within 13 buildings ranging from 4 to 7 storeys will now stand.

The Planning Committee refused the planning application on the basis that the scheme was out of character with the 2-3 storey suburban nature of the area, there was no section 106 agreement in place, and the living conditions would be affected by noise, poor light and loss of amenity. The Planning Inspector found that the character and appearance and living conditions reasons were valid reasons for refusal, and ruled against the developer’s appeal.

Local Labour councillors and residents, including the New Barnet Community Association, had objected to the scheme, and provided evidence to the inquiry.

East Barnet Labour councillor, Simon Radford said:
“I am delighted that the Fairview appeal has been rejected. This is vindication for campaigns against tower block blight and overdevelopment. The Save New Barnet campaign have been steadfast in pointing out the various flaws of the scheme, and I was delighted to join them, along with my colleagues Cllr Cohen and Cllr David, in sharing our thoughts with the Planning Inspector about the potential for flats to overheat, the poor design of the development more generally, and concerns about how affordable these flats would really be.

“I am really proud that this new Labour administration will be bringing planning back in house, rather than continuing with the Tories’ outsourcing of planning to profit-seeking companies like Capita. This way we can have a genuinely democratic process to oversee developments and create developments that deliver genuinely affordable housing while being in keeping with the character of local communities. Today is a good day for East Barnet!”

Ends.
Notes:

  1. A copy of the Planning Inspector’s decision can be found here: Appeal decision 3294689.pdf
  2. A link to all the planning appeal documents including the three East Barnet Labour councillors’ submissions can be found here: https://www.barnet.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning/land-formerly-known-british-gas-works-planning-appeal
  3. For more on this story see: Victoria Quarter scheme for 539 units refused by Planning Committee – Barnet Labour Party – Barnet Labour Party
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