Revised plans for the redevelopment of the station site were unveiled by Transport for London and developers Taylor Wimpey at an exhibition in the station car park (that continues until Saturday 9 November).
In response to objections made after a consultation in June, the proposed development has been scaled back and plans for multi-storey blocks of flats fronting on to the junction of Barnet Hill and Meadway have been abandoned.
The latest plan proposes:
- Construction of up to 300 new homes, instead of up to 450 as previously proposed.
- Six blocks of flats instead of eight, and their height would be reduced to six to seven storeys high instead of ten to twelve.
- The existing 159 car parking spaces would be reduced to 32. This would comprise five drop-off spaces and 27 spaces for long term parking of which six would be for blue badge users.
- The existing approach road would continue to provide access for vehicles but would become one way and continue through the development, exiting on Barnet Hill, nearer Underhill.
- The incline of the footpath beside the approach road would be reduced so that it was “wheelchair compatible” and the bus stop near the top of Barnet Hill would be moved 85 metres nearer the pedestrian crossing.
- Instead of a block of flats on either side of the pedestrian footpath leading to the station from the junction of Barnet Hill and Meadway there would be an improved walkway. 100 trees would be planted, in addition to the existing 200 mature trees.
- There would be a new “square and community hub” in front of the station which would offer a flexible workspace-café with fast broadband. The block of flats nearest to the station would include a convenience store.
The revised plan re-affirms that 40 per cent of the new homes would affordable – “affordable rent” and “shared ownership” homes. Just over half the homes would be family homes – two bed and four person and three bed and five person homes.
In justifying the cut in parking space, TFL says this will reduce the number of vehicle trips to the station by 68,000 a year – reducing “noise, congestion and emissions, and improve air quality”.
To prevent commuters parking in streets near the station, TFL is to consult Barnet Council on the introduction of CPZ controls to roads around Underhill, Meadway, Potters Close, Leicester Road and Station Road.
To encourage cycling, 50 covered spaces will be provided for cyclists.
No one has had the courtesy to tell us how the future of our business might be affected, but we have been on the station yard site since 1990 and employ 100 workers locally
Altogether, the development will provide over two acres of green and landscaped space and new habitat boxes will be installed for birds and bats.
TFL insists the redevelopment will have economic benefits. The proposed community hub and convenience store would support 18 jobs.
During construction, over 200 people would be employed on the site and TFL and Taylor Wimpey undertake to provide up to ten apprenticeship opportunities and between 15 and 20 local jobs.
Among the residents and business people attending the exhibition was David Eaves, managing director of JDC Scaffolding, one of the companies that will be displaced if construction goes ahead in the land currently occupied by storage and container yards.
Mr Eaves complained that TFL had failed to make contact with the company and explain how their lease might be affected.
“We just picked up the news of this exhibition. No one has had the courtesy to tell us how the future of our business might be affected, but we have been on the station yard site since 1990 and employ 100 workers locally.”
Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet, has repeated her opposition to the proposed development.
“The changes made by TFL don’t go nearly far enough to alleviate concerns of local residents. This still means almost no parking space at the station and the same high-density housing at the southern end of the site, which would threaten the suburban character of Barnet and see residential streets even more choked with parked cars.”