Deputy Mayor of London has high praise for a new High Barnet estate of houses and flats being built on former farmland at Whalebones

Construction of new houses and flats is well underway on what was the last remaining field on the border betweenHigh High Barnet and Arkley – a development described by a Deputy Mayor of London as a “fantastic example” of delivering new homes while preserving a green space and respecting the heritage of the location.

Work on the new Whalebones Park housing estate began last year after those campaigning to preserve the Whalebones woods and farmland finally admitted defeat.

Barnet Council voted narrowly in favour of the scheme and the Mayor of London gave the final go-ahead for the construction of 115 new homes, a mix of houses for private sale and affordable homes in blocks ranging from two to five storeys in height.

The first of the new homes are expected to be completed by the summer next year.

Tom Copley, deputy mayor of London for housing and development, was welcomed on an official visit to the site by Greg Hill, deputy chief executive of the developers, The Hill Group, and Joe Mashall, chief investment and development officer for affordable housing charity Sovereign Network Group.

(Hill Group photo, See above, Tom Copley, with spade, and on his left London Assembly Member Councillor Ann Clarke and Greg Hill; and on his right, High Barnet Councillor Emma Whysall and Joe Marshall).

The purpose of the visit was to review progress on a development aimed at addressing London’s housing need while “preserving and enhancing” the character of an important heritage site.

Mr Copley praised the commitment of the Hill Group and SNG in preserving green space around the development and enhancing biodiversity.

“Whalebones Park is a fantastic example of how we can deliver the high-quality, genuinely affordable homes Londoners need while creating places where communities can thrive,” said Mr Copley.

“Developments like this are vital to building a better, fairer London.”

Mr Marshall said a total of 54 affordable homes – one, two and three-bedroom apartments – would be delivered through a partnership between The Hill Group and SNG and they would give local people greater access to affordable rent and shared ownership in an area where demand remained high.

“Combined with the new green spaces, community facilities and long-term investment in the landscape, this development will make a lasting positive impact for both new and existing residents.”  

Andy Hill, founder and group chief executive of The Hill Group, has always insisted the Whalebones Park development will respect the heritage of the Grade II listed Whalebones House, formerly the home of Cowing family, proprietors of the Barnet Press.

Around half of the 12 acre-site will be retained as publicly accessible open space, “ensuring the natural beauty and heritage of Whalebones Park is protected for future generations”.

“Residents and the wider community will benefit from attractive meadows, healing gardens, ponds, natural play areas, a woodland walk and accessible routes.”

A biodiversity net gain of 10 per cent would be achieved through the planting of 200 new trees and 750 metres of new hedgerow, alongside a long-term management plan to protect habitats and green infrastructure.

The new homes will feature air-source heat pumps, solar panels and sustainable urban drainage systems to ensure the neighbourhood is “low carbon, energy efficient and environmentally sensitive”.

The development will retain a site for an agricultural smallholding to replace the original Whalebones farm; a new community building including a new studio for Barnet Guild of Artists; and one site parking.