Back to Our Work

The Society is usually invited by developers to pre-application discussions regarding major development proposals. We publish updates in our newsletters and on our website and, when a planning application is submitted, we respond formally to the Council.

(Links marked # are to the Council’s Planning Portal. Select “Design & Access Statement” from the ‘Show All’ dropdown. Then ‘Apply’ and ‘View’ to see the proposed scheme)

Mar 2022 Transport Secretary torpedoes plan for building tower blocks at Cockfosters tube station

Aug 2021 Barnet Society response to planning application

Jul 2021 Fears over impact on Green Belt of gruesome tower blocks at Cockfosters Station

Jun 2021 Planning application documents (select Design & Access Statement) #

Jun 2021 Scheme visuals 

Apr 2023 The Spires developers must up their design game – and drop their building heights

Mar 2023 Alarm bells over Spires proposals

Dec 2022 Plans to add new housing in redevelopment plans to open up The Spires shopping centre

May 2021 Spires sold to property investor specialising in converting commercial buildings into housing

Apr 2021 Barnet Council urged to prepare for possible redevelopment of Spires shopping centre

Sep 2021 Taylor Wimpey withdraws from building flats at High Barnet and Finchley central tube stations

Oct 2020 Delay over TfL’s plans for High Barnet tube station

May 2020 Uncertain future for container yard at High Barnet station

Apr 2020 High Barnet Station development still on track

Dec 2019 High Barnet Station – our response to the revised proposals

Nov 2019 Mixed reaction to new Tube home plans

Nov 2019 Scaled back plans for Barnet station development

Oct 2019 Two blocks of flats abandoned and instead trees to be preserved

Sep 2019 Uproar over Tube apartments plan

Jun 2019 New housing planned for High Barnet tube station

Jun 2019 High density housing for High Barnet station?

Sep 2022 Victoria Quarter planning victory a marker for other developments

Jul 2022 Dilemma for planning inspector: How many blocks of flats can be fitted into New Barnet site?

Mar 2022 Victoria Victory, Again!

Feb 2022 Blocks of flats on gas works site rejected 

Jun 2021 Tower block heights reduced after complaints about New Barnet’s “high-rise monstrosity”

Apr 2021 Troubled gas works site developers say lessons have been learned

Mar 2021 Developers inviting residents to offer ideas and opinions on fresh proposals

Dec 2020 Another rebuff to gas works flats: Mayor of London says No

Sep 2020 Planning application rejected by Barnet Council

Jun 2020 Barnet Society response to planning application

Jun 2020 Barnet Society members overwhelmingly oppose Victoria Quarter proposals

Jun 2020 Barnet Council’s “woeful” failure to provide cycling lanes

Apr 2020 Reduced height for New Barnet tower blocks

Apr 2020 Planning application documents (select Design & Access Statement) #

Feb 2020 Housing density doubled on gas works site

Mar 2023 After previous refusals trustees are making a renewed bid to get approval to redevelop Whalebones estate

Mar 2023 Renewed bid by developers for approval for residential development at historic Whalebones estate

Nov 2021 Whalebones fields and woods saved again: planning appeal dismissed

Sep 2021 Planning decision on future of Whalebones woods and fields awaited after inspector pays farm visit

Aug 2021 Residents dismayed by Barnet Council’s U-turn over plans for housing estate at Whalebones

Jun 2021 Barnet Society representations to planning inpectorate regarding planning appeal

Jun 2021 Last chance for Whalebones fields

Jun 2021 Rallying opposition to redevelopment of Whalebones woods and fields

Mar 2021 Mayor of London decides not to overrule Barnet Council

Oct 2020 Planning application rejected

Aug 2019 Barnet Society response to planning application

Aug 2019 Design of quality proposed for Whalebones – so why does the Barnet Society oppose it?

Jun 2019 Planning application documents (select Design & Access Statement) #

Feb 2019 Whalebones plan revised ahead of application

Dec 2018 Plans for houses and public parkland in Whalebones

Dec 2021 Market site for sale

Nov 2018 Premier Inn wins approval – but will it help to revive High Barnet’s town centre

Oct 2018 Barnet Society response to revised planning application

Oct 2018 Planning application documents (select Design & Access Statement) #

Sep 2018 Premier Inn refuses to throw in the towel

Sep 2018 Premier Inn – Take Two

Aug 2018 Premier Inn – What next?

Aug 2018 Premier Inn – market place confrontation

May 2018 Barnet Society response to planning application

May 2018 Barnet Market & Premier Inn – An opportunity slipping away

Apr 2018 Market exits for hotel

Apr 2018 A hotel worthy of historic site