Keeping watch on developments in New Barnet
2023 Planning Application for Gasworks Site
Fairview New Homes and One Housing submitted a planning application to build 420 flats on the former gasworks site in Albert Road (Victoria Quarter) in September 2023. The deadline for public comments to Barnet Council was 3rd November 2023.
Public consultation was reopened from Monday 27th November 2023 to Monday 18th December 2023 for 'technical reasons'.
Fairview New Homes and One Housing submitted a series of revisions to their Victoria Quarter planning application in January 2024 and public consultation was reopened until Thursday 1st February 2024. The amendments included the reduction the number of car parking spaces by four, increasing the size of the commercial space by 67sqm, changes to some brickwork, balcony, doorway, and window detailing, and changes to some landscaping details.
Link to application details (23/3964/FUL) on Barnet Council's planning website: tinyurl.com/vqsept2023
UPDATE 1 - Due to the meeting over-running, the planning committee on 20 February 2024 was adjourned, delaying the decision on Fairview's application.
UPDATE 2 - Barnet's planning committee APPROVED Fairview's application at its meeting on 13 March 2024.
News
15th July 2024
A newsletter, dated 15th July, has been emailed to campaign supporters. This final newsletter from the SNB Campaign Team responds to Fairview's Victoria Quarter planning approval.
Finchley Society Documents referenced in newsletter:
- Finchley Society concerns re North Finchley Regeneration
- Lodge Lane Car Park Development Proposals March 2024 – LLN12RA Issues
- Great North Leisure Park N12 0GL – a design brief
13th February 2024
The Victoria Quarter planning application from Fairview and One Housing (23/3964/FUL) will be decided by councillors on Barnet's planning committee at their meeting on Tue 20th February 2024 at 7pm. The planning officer's report recommends that the councillors should approve the application.
The agenda and officer's report are on Barnet Council's website:
6th February 2024
The Save New Barnet Campaign Team have written a letter of objection to Barnet Council's planning department in response to the amended proposals submitted by Fairview for 420 flats in the Victoria Quarter development on the gasworks site (23/3964/FUL). The letter was accompanied by two detailed appraisals reporting on Quality of Design and Massing, Sunlight & Daylight.
10th December 2023
A newsletter, dated 10th December, has been emailed to campaign supporters. It reports a brief reopening of public comments on the Victoria Quarter planning application and news of works to the railway line.
20th September 2023
The Save New Barnet Campaign Team have written a letter of objection to Barnet Council's planning department in response to the latest proposals submitted by Fairview for 420 flats in the Victoria Quarter development on the gasworks site (23/3964/FUL).
15th October 2023
A newsletter, dated 15th October, has been emailed to campaign supporters. It reports our response to Fairview's planning application for 420 homes on their Victoria Quarter development following our public meeting.
11th October 2023
A public meeting was held at the Community Centre on 11th October 2023 to hear the views of the local community on the latest planning application submitted by Fairview for the Victoria Quarter site.
29th September 2023
A newsletter, dated 29th September, has been emailed to campaign supporters. It reports on Fairview's submission of a planning application for 420 homes on their Victoria Quarter development.
19th July 2023
A newsletter, dated 19th July, has been emailed to campaign supporters. It further reports on Fairview's public consultation on their latest plans for the Victoria Quarter scheme which ends on 31st July.
5th July 2023
A newsletter, dated 5th July, has been emailed to campaign supporters. It reports Fairview's exhibition and public consultation for their latest plans for the Victoria Quarter scheme.
5th July 2023
Fairview New Homes and One Housing are distributing a leaflet inviting residents to an exhibition of their latest proposals for the Victoria Quarter (former New Barnet Gasworks) site.
Venue: Mary Immaculate and St. Peter Catholic Church, 63 Somerset Road, New Barnet, EN5 1RF
- Wednesday 12th July 2023 from 4.00pm to 7.30pm
- Friday 14th July 2023 from 4.00pm to 7.30pm
The public consultation process will run from Wed 12th July to Mon 31st July 2023.
Contact details for the Fairview / One Housing project team:
Phone: 0800 298 7040
Email: feedback@consultation-online.co.uk
Web: victoriaquarter.consultationonline.co.uk
20th January 2023
A newsletter, dated 20th January, has been emailed to campaign supporters. It reports the refusal by the High Court of Fairview's request for reconsideration for a judicial review over the planning appeal for their 2021 Victoria Quarter scheme.
6th January 2023
A newsletter, dated 6th January, has been emailed to campaign supporters. It reports on the SNB response to Fairview's planning applications to amend the consented plans for blocks H & J of the Victoria Quarter development.
20th December 2022
A newsletter, dated 20th December, has been emailed to campaign supporters. It reports Fairview's High Court appeal date, and new planning applications to amend the consented plans for blocks H & J of the Victoria Quarter development.
18th November 2022
A newsletter, dated 18th November, has been emailed to campaign supporters. It reports on Fairview's request for reconsideration in the the High Court of their refused application for Judicial Review over the planning appeal for their Victoria Quarter development.
11th November 2022
A newsletter, dated 11th November, has been emailed to campaign supporters. It reports the refusal by the High Court of Fairview's application for Judicial Review over the planning appeal for their Victoria Quarter development.
9th October 2022
A newsletter, dated 9th October, has been emailed to campaign supporters. It features the launch by Fairview of a Judicial Review over the planning appeal for their Victoria Quarter development.
25th August 2022
A newsletter, dated 25th August, has been emailed to campaign supporters. It features the dismissal of the planning appeal over Fairview's refused application for the Victoria Quarter development.
All previous news remains archived on the news page.
2022 Planning Applications for amendments to Consented Scheme at Gasworks Site
Fairview New Homes and One Housing submitted planning applications to amend two buildings (H & J) of the consented scheme for 371 homes, and a temporary car park for these two buildings, in December 2022.
Links to application details on Barnet Council's planning website:
Block H 22/5754/S73
Block J 22/5755/S73
Temporary Car Park 22/5928/FUL
UPDATE 1 - The planning applications were approved by Barnet's planning committee on 29 March 2023.
2021 Planning Application for Gasworks Site - REFUSED, appeal DISMISSED, judicial review REFUSED, and request for reconsideration of judicial review REFUSED
Fairview New Homes and One Housing submitted a planning application to build 544 flats on the former gasworks site in Albert Road (Victoria Quarter) in July 2021. After a number of time extensions, public consultation ended on 30th September 2021.
Fairview New Homes and One Housing submitted a series of revisions to their Victoria Quarter planning application in November 2021 and public consultation was reopened until Thursday 16th December 2021. The amendments were the removal of one floor of the tallest block, reducing the total number of flats by five to 539, and modification of brick parapets from horizontal to angled on some elevations.
Link to application details (21/3676/FUL) on Barnet Council's planning website: tinyurl.com/vqjuly2021
UPDATE 1 - The Victoria Quarter planning application was REFUSED by Barnet's planning committee on Tue 22 February 2022.
UPDATE 2 - Fairview submitted an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, claiming non-determination of the application within the statutory time limit, on 23 February 2022.
UPDATE 3 - A public inquiry into Fairview's planning appeal over the refused Victoria Quarter planning application took place at Hendon Town Hall between Tue 19 and Fri 29 July 2022.
UPDATE 4 - The independent Planning Inspector DISMISSED Fairview's appeal over the refused Victoria Quarter planning application in a decision published on 19 August 2022.
UPDATE 5 - Fairview launched a Judicial Review in the High Court over the planning appeal, on 29 September 2022.
UPDATE 6 - Fairview's application for Judicial Review was REFUSED by the High Court in a ruling published on 11 November 2022.
UPDATE 7 - Fairview requested reconsideration by the High Court of their refused application for Judicial Review on 17 November 2022.
UPDATE 8 - Fairview's request for reconsideration of their refused application for Judicial Review will have a 30 minute oral hearing at the High Court on 18 January 2023.
UPDATE 9 - Fairview's request for reconsideration of their refused application for Judicial Review was REFUSED at the High Court on 18 January 2023.
2020 Planning Application for Gasworks Site - REFUSED
Fairview New Homes submitted a planning application to build 652 flats on the former gasworks site in Albert Road (Victoria Quarter) in April 2020. The deadline for public comments to Barnet Council was 17 June 2020. Link to application details (20/1719/FUL) on Barnet Council's planning website: tinyurl.com/vqappapr2020
An additional 21 day consultation period was opened at the end of July 2020 following some minor changes to the planning application. A total of 1048 objections had been lodged with Barnet Council's planners when public comments closed again on 19 August 2020.
The official report by Barnet Council's Planning Officers on Fairview's 652 flat scheme for the gasworks site was published on 24 August 2020. The report recommends approval. The development is the main agenda item for the councillors on Barnet's Planning Committee to discuss and vote on at their 2 September 2020 online meeting.
Link to: Agenda and Report on Barnet Council's website.
Due to the size of the development it will also have to be referred to the Mayor of London.
UPDATE 1:
At Barnet's planning committee on 2nd September, the 11 councillors present at the online meeting voted unanimously to oppose the officers report that recommended approval of Fairview's Victoria Quarter development. In their comments, all the cllrs were clear in their very strong objections to the scheme. They then agreed to defer to their next meeting a vote on the detailed grounds to refuse the planning application. This was due to the very long list that the councillors came up with and the importance of writing this in a clear and unambiguous way.
UPDATE 2:
At Barnet's planning committee on 13th Oct, the councillors voted unanimously to agree to the grounds for refusal for Fairview's Victoria Quarter development that had been compiled by planning officers following the cllrs unanimous vote to reject the development at their meeting on 2nd Sept.
The agreed reasons for refusal of 20/1719/FUL are:
1. The proposed development, by virtue of its excessive height, scale, massing and density would represent an over development of the site resulting in a visually obtrusive form of development that would fail to respect its local context and the pattern of development in the area, to such an extent that it would be detrimental to the character and appearance of the area. The proposal would therefore not constitute a sustainable form of development and would be contrary to the provisions of the NPPF; Policies 3.4, 7.4, 7.6 and 7.7 of the London Plan (2016); Policies CS NPPF, CS5, DM01 and DM05 of the Barnet Local Plan Core Strategy and Development Management Policies (2012).
2. The proposed development by reason of its density, design and layout, would provide an unsatisfactory standard of residential accommodation due to the poor layout of some of the proposed flats, inadequate separation distances, poor outlook, limited natural light and poor quality courtyard amenity spaces. The proposal would therefore represent a poor form of development to the detriment of the amenity and living conditions of future occupiers. Therefore the proposal is contrary to the provisions of the NPPF; Policies 3.5, 7.4 and 7.6 of the London Plan (2016); Policy CS5 of the Local Plan Core Strategy (2012); Policy DM01 and DM02 of the Development Management Policies (2012); the Council's Residential Design Guidance SPD (2016); and Sustainable Design and Construction SPD (2016).
3. The proposed development, by virtue of the unit mix being predominantly one and two bedroom units and with no provision of four bed family units, fails to provide a genuine choice for a growing and diverse population and thus fails to meet the identified housing need in Barnet, contrary to the requirements of the NPPF; Policy 3.8 of the London Plan (2016); and Policies CS4 and DM08 of the Barnet Local Plan Core Strategy (2012) and Development Management Policies (2012).
4. In the absence of a Section 106 Agreement, the application does not include a formal undertaking to enable an amendment to the Traffic Regulations Order and to secure the planning obligations which are necessary to make the application acceptable. The application is therefore contrary to the NPPF; London Plan Policies 3.6, 3.12, 3.13, 4.3, 4.12, 5.2, 6.3, 6.9, 6.10, 7.19, 7.21, 8.2; Policies DM02, DM04, DM10, DM14, DM16, DM17; and Policies CS4, CS7, CS8, CS9, CS15 of the Development Management Policies (2012); Barnet Local Plan Core Strategy (2012); the Barnet Planning Obligations (adopted April 2013); Affordable Housing (adopted February 2007 and August 2010) Supplementary Planning Document; the Barnet Supplementary Planning Document on Delivering Skills, Employment and Enterprise Training (SEET) (adopted October 2014); and the Mayor’s Supplementary Planning Guidance on Affordable Housing and Viability (2017).
UPDATE 3:
Fairview's planning application was referred to the Mayor of London on 26 November 2020 for final determination. The Mayor has until 9th December 2020 to decide whether to allow Barnet's refusal to stand, or to take over the planning application himself. Details in the 1st December 2020 SNB Newsletter.
UPDATE 4:
On 7th December 2020 the Mayor of London made the decision to overrule his own officers report and instead follow Barnet's planning committee to refuse Fairview's Victoria Quarter scheme. The developers can still appeal to the Secretary of State. Details of the Mayor's decision on the GLA website.
SNB videos about the Victoria Quarter Planning Application
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Background to the Save New Barnet Campaign
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 had permission for a Tesco Express store in front of the gasworks site on Victoria Road.
The campaign 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.
Thankfully we were able to sucessfully oppose the building of two huge superstores with tall blocks of flats above, however the fight to resist inappropriate over development of sites in New Barnet continues.
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.
New Barnet Town Centre Framework
Consultants working on behalf of Barnet Council drew up outline proposals for the future of the main shopping area in New Barnet during 2009. Public consultation on a draft version of the document took place during February and March 2010.
A final version was approved by Barnet Council on 29th November 2010. It is available for downloaded from the Council's website.
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)
- 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
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.