Keeping watch on developments in New Barnet

News

2nd July 2009
Withdrawal of ASDA planning application is covered by both local newspapers:

Barnet Times - "Asda backs out - for now"

Barnet Press - "Asda plans withdrawn at 11th hour before vote"

30th June 2009
The Save New Barnet Campaign was advised late on Tuesday 30th June that ASDA had WITHDRAWN their planning application for the gasworks site. Therefore the ASDA application will NOT be on the agenda at Barnet Council's Planning & Environment Committee taking place on Wednesday 1st July.

20th June 2009
The proposed ASDA development will go before Barnet's Planning & Environment Committee on Wednesday 1st July 2009 for Councillors to make their decision.
The Planning Officers Report recommends that Councillors should vote to REFUSE the application.

2nd June 2009

The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment have published a design review on the ASDA planning application.
The report concludes that the proposed scheme is fundamentally flawed and should be refused planning permission.

20th May 2009
The Save New Barnet Campaign was featured in BBC London News reports on BBC1 all day on Wednesday 20th May.

17th May 2009
Barnet Council have now received a total of 1,720 objections to ASDA'a planning application from local residents. And 15 people have written in favour.

(There are 1714 objections to B/00200/09 and 6 objections to B/0200/09 - the wrong reference number given on Barnet's official notification letter to residents)

16th May 2009
The Save New Barnet petition containing 2,556 signatures was presented to Robert Rams (Councillor for East Barnet Ward) and Theresa Villiers (MP for Chipping Barnet) at the gasworks site on Saturday 16th May.

5th May 2009
Tesco have written a letter to the local press and councillors announcing new smaller proposals for their 'regeneration' site.

4th May 2009
The Greater London Authority have published a report on the ASDA planning application: Planning Report PDU/1459/01
The report contains a detailed analysis of the scheme and concludes that the planning application does not comply with the London Plan.

more news headlines

Alternative Plan for the Gasworks Site

Despite ASDA and Tesco's attempts to brand us as a bunch of "NIMBYs", the Save New Barnet Campaign is far from "anti-development". Indeed, we're keener than most to see redundant sites in our local area brought back into use. However, we are determined to oppose any development which is inappropriate in terms of scale, design and use. After all, it is us and our community that will have to live with the effects of these projects long after the developers have moved on.

The kind of large-scale, multi-storey development that ASDA and Tesco are proposing is grossly inappropriate in a largely residential suburb like New Barnet, which is characterised by two or three storey buildings on a Victorian and Edwardian road network, and within a few hundred metres of the Green Belt.

We also know that it's not what local people want, because we've spent the last year asking their opinion for our community's "Vision For New Barnet". Amongst the hundreds of views, two things that came up again and again were "family houses" and "leisure facilities".

So, using the "Vision" as a guide, we commissioned some local architects to propose an alternative solution for the derelict gasworks site. The result is an inspiring plan that is grounded in commercial reality, but which makes the most of the site’s potential and meets the real needs of our local community.

Take a look at the alternative plans: (click pictures to enlarge)

Integrated Development and Park Master Plan

83 three storey three- and four-bed houses
45 three storey one- and two-bed flats
Pedestrian-friendly residential streets
33 metre swimming pool with training pool and outdoor paddling/wet play area
Leisure centre with youth club facilities
Site fully integrated with an upgraded Victoria Recreation Ground
'Unzipping' (opening up) the two brooks which flow through the site
800-1000 sq. m. retail space in mixed use area (the amount recommended in three separate studies commissioned by Barnet Council, ASDA and Tesco)
Better links with East Barnet Road

Integrated Development and Park Master Plan [188K pdf] - Mar 2009

Planning Applications - Current Status

ASDA

A planning application from ASDA was registered by Barnet Council on 16th February 2009. The application was due to be decided at Barnet's Planning and Environment Committee on 1st July 2009, but ASDA withdrew their plans on 30th June 2009.

Therefore there is currently NO current planning application for the gasworks site.

Tesco

Tesco have NOT yet applied for planning permission for their original or revised 'regeneration' schemes.

Tesco Express

Tesco made an appeal to the planning inspectorate on 13th October 2008 over the non-determination of their second (January 2008) application to Barnet Council to develop a Tesco Express at 7 - 11 Victoria Road. The application was presented to the planning committee on 18th November 2008 where councillors voted to refuse the application, however the final decision is in the hands of an inspector. A planning inquiry took place on 17 - 18th March 2009. The verdict of the planning inspector was published on 7th April 2009. He has ruled that planning permision should be granted to build a Tesco Express at 7-11 Victoria Road.

Background

In January 2008, Tesco announced plans for a 'Town Centre Regeneration Scheme' in New Barnet. This was in addition to ASDA's long expected development plans at the neighbouring gasworks site in Albert Road. The Save New Barnet Campaign was formed in response to these development plans.

In addition to these plans for two major supermarket developments, Tesco also have permission for a Tesco Express store in front of the gasworks site on Victoria Road.

The campaign has organised a number of events and commissioned research into local opinion. A Vision For New Barnet suggests what the local residents would like to see happen to improve New Barnet.

On this website you will find an archive of documents, including press coverage, related to the planned development schemes. The latest info is on the news page and the action section contains contacts to express your opinion.

What can I do?

Sign Up

Let us have your email address and we will keep you informed about local developments. We will let you know when Tesco & ASDA submit planning applications, when & where to send your vital letters of objection, and other campaigning activities.

Show Your Support

Download and print a poster to display in your window.

A selection of posters can be found in the publicity section.

Write to the local newspapers and tell them about your concerns with the two development proposals.

Visit the action pages for more ideas, hints, tips and contacts.

Speak up for your local community!

Save New Barnet from superstore suffocation

say NO to the destruction of the heart of New Barnet

say NO to traffic gridlock, noise & pollution

say NO to squeezing out independent shops & businesses

say NO to hundreds more flats

say NO to a characterless 'Tescoville' or 'Asda Anytown'

Save New Barnet Campaign is a non-political group of local residents fighting for a better New Barnet. The group seeks to inform the local community about potential changes to the area, and oppose inappropriate developments. The group aims to promote a clear vision for how New Barnet could be developed for the benefit of the community based on the views of local people.

The Save New Barnet campaign is funded entirely by donations from individuals. It is not bankrolled by any company or commercial organisation.