A much-troubled plan to build flats on the former gas works site in New Barnet has joined The Spires shopping centre as one of those projects where developers might have no alternative but to respond to the views of local community groups if they are to have any chance of gaining planning approval.

A High Court judge has refused a renewed attempt by developers Fairview to re-open their failed attempt to construct 13 blocks of flats on the vacant New Barnet site next to Victoria Park.

Save New Barnet Campaign says that after spending close to £1million on planning applications and legal hearings they hope Fairview has learned an “expensive lesson” and will co-operate with the community.

A similar plea for a co-operative approach has been made by the Chipping Barnet Town Team after being shown plans by property owners BYM to redevelop The Spires to include five blocks of flats of up to six storeys in height.

Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet, who was at the Town Team meeting, said she hoped BYM would listen to the views of community groups who considered six-storey blocks of flats were too high given The Spires’ location in the centre of the town.

Both these redevelopment projects – together with the ongoing possibility of flats at High Barnet tube station and homes on the Whalebones estate – are bound to be discussed at a public meeting to be held in February by the Barnet Society to discuss the town’s needs for new and improved housing.

Speakers at the meeting – on Wednesday 21 February at The Bull (7pm) – will include Ross Houston, housing lead for Barnet Council, green experts, and local architects.

Save New Barnet Campaign says the refusal by a High Court judge of an oral appeal by Fairview to build 13 blocks of flats of four to seven storeys on the gas works site means that the company’s application for a total of 539 flats is “finally, totally dead having now exhausted all legal options”.

Fairview have now been refused permission by Barnet Council; failed at a planning inquiry; and had their appeal rejected twice in the High Court; and it was time the company re-worked their early proposals – which were approved – for 371 flats.

“We can only hope that Fairview might have learned an expensive lesson – work with the local community in New Barnet rather than aggressively against them.”

New Barnet’s appeal for a collaborative approach was echoed at the Town Team meeting where there was agreement that BYM would be well advised to adjust their initial proposals to meet concerns about the height of five blocks of flats to be built as part of a wider redevelopment of The Spires shopping centre.

Ms Villiers said in her statement that she was willing to consider changes to The Spires so long as shops and retail remained at the core of the redevelopment.

The proposals before the Town Team were for buildings which were “too high and involve too many flats”.

“I hope they will be listening to the views we expressed, urging them to ensure that any proposals they bring forward for public consultation are in tune with the character of the surrounding neighbourhood.

“This could be the most important project undertaken in Barnet town centre since The Spires was rebuilt in the 1980s after a protracted debate about this site.

“I will be rigorously scrutinising any proposals which come forward because I am determined to do all I can to secure a successful future for Barnet High Street and its shopping centre.”

Ms Villiers’ concerns about the height of the proposed flats were shared by leading members of the Town Team – Councillor David Longstaff (left) and Bob Burstow – who said local community groups would be anxious to take part in consultations with BYM.

Councillor Longstaff said he was surprised there was no separate provision for car parking spaces for the flats except for some disabled places.

News of the possible redevelopment of The Spires and the construction of a pedestrian street through the shopping centre with flats on either side has coincided with the imminent opening of a new Poundland store.

Fitting out work has been underway for some weeks.

Poundland are opening new shops across the country and the branch in The Spires will sell clothing and home wares as well everyday essentials including groceries, drinks, and snacks.