One of the reasons so many people trust David Harris & Co is because we know and care about the local area, and local opinion. We work closely with residents, landlords, tenants, homeowners and businesses in and around Finchley.
As property market specialists, its natural many people come to use for our opinion on local matters. Of course, as with many things in the property market, there is usually more than one opinion on an issue, depending on where your focus lies.
This is certainly the case with plans for over 100 new homes in the area.
The plans, greenlit by the Mayor of London’s office, outline the construction of 115 new homes in Whalebones Park, situated within the historic Wood Street Conservation Area. This decision, no doubt a complex one, has sparked passionate debate amongst residents - understandably so, given the park's status as a much-loved local treasure.
On the one hand, the development will provide a significant boost to our region's housing supply, including an encouraging 35% allocation of affordable units. In a climate of sky-high property prices and limited availability, this influx of new homes could offer a lifeline to many individuals and families eager to put down roots in our community.
Yet, the park's designation as a conservation area acknowledges its inherent value - not just as open green space, but as a living testament to Barnet’s rich heritage. The prospect of encroaching upon this cherished natural haven has undoubtedly left many locals feeling uneasy about the loss of their neighbourhood's unique character.
Gina Theodorou is the chair of the Quinta Village Green association and is campaigning against the plans. Gina led a petition which managed more than 2,000 objections to the plan, citing substantial harm to the local area.
Gina said: “It will result in the loss of the last remnant of countryside in the conservation area and would be out of character, too dense and would blur the conservation boundary. Objectors do not believe that the benefits of the development outweigh the harm, particularly as it would only contribute 0.76% to the borough’s five-year housing target. It would result in a significant loss of green space and cover and cause harm to the historic environment and local character as well as a loss of habitat network and increased fragmentation.”
However, there has been support for the scheme. Gordon Massey is a member of the Barnet Residents Association, and he believes the plan is “one of the best schemes” the group has ever seen. He acknowledges losing green space is a downside, but states that there will still be access to green space.
Gordon said: "We always look carefully at the impact on residential neighbours, often a reason we oppose a scheme. Only part of Collison Avenue, a local road, and a small part of Wood Street are in sight of the housing development.”
The plan is set to offer 115 homes in total, with 46 affordable homes, with the breakdown of these being:
28 homes set aside for affordable rent
18 homes allocated to shared ownership
However, even this measure has received criticism from Gina Theodorou. She believes the affordable housing will be unaffordable for many people.
The Mayor’s Office released a statement, saying: “As part of the stage two referral [the process where the mayor reviews planning applications approved by a local planning authority] the mayor took into account all representations received, in addition to a detailed assessment of the proposal by Greater London Authority planning officers, and was content for Barnet to determine the application as it had resolved.”
A council spokesperson said: “The scheme brings a number of public benefits, including 35% affordable housing provision. There will also be two hectares of new public open spaces, including play areas, sensory meadows and woodland walks. The decision was made following extensive consultation with local residents and community groups as part of the statutory planning process.”
We have assisted many Finchley homeowners and landlords looking to let their property, and we know what tenants are looking for when searching for rental accommodation. You can take the stress out of connecting with likely tenants by turning to a local letting agent in Finchley.
If you want to make an informed decision in and around Finchley’s lettings market, we are here for you. If you have any questions about the local rental market, or you need assistance, please contact David Harris & Co today. Call us on 0208 346 9122.
