When the owners of The Spires shopping centre unveiled revised plans to redevelop much of their High Barnet site with blocks of flats up to six storeys high, there was a barrage of challenging, even hostile questions.

Householders in adjoining streets feared their homes would get less daylight and be overlooked.

There was disbelief when the planning team from property developers BYM tried to reassure nearby residents that their scheme would be “car lite” and would not add to pressure on car parking in surrounding streets.

BYM’s head of planning Dean Jordan (see above), who was on hand to answer questions, insisted that redevelopment of The Spires – and incorporating within it around 250 flats – was an essential next step given the trading difficulties that the shopping centre faced.

A new pedestrian street would be created through the shopping centre, from the High Street to Stapylton Road, with 24-hour access, and there would be “new places to eat, drink and shop” while retaining Waitrose, other key outlets, and Barnet Market.

“Since BYM purchased The Spires two years ago, the retail trade has changed. We have vacancies in the centre, and outlets are harder and harder to let. Given the way The Spires is declining, we must invest for the future.”

An exhibition of BYM’s plans (which will be repeated on Saturday 15 April, between 11am and 3pm) was so well attended that it spilled out into the central walkway.

Consultations which have been held with local organisations over recent weeks have also indicated considerable disquiet.

However, few of the concerns which the Barnet Society expressed last year about the extensive height and massing of the redevelopment, have been addressed in the updated designs.

“We could accept 250 flats if the result is a real improvement in The Spires,” said Robin Bishop who leads for the society of planning issues.

“What’s currently on offer is mainly a five to six-storey canyon of shops and cafes with flats above.

“Key information on transport, homes, sustainability and the visual impact on neighbours and conservation areas is lacking.

“This is a once-in-a-generation chance to revitalise the town centre, and the developers’ team must up their game if it’s not to be wasted.”

Barnet Residents Association told its members it considered the scheme would “disfigure our historic town and rob it of its unique character”.

Despite the worries voiced by nearby residents, Gail Laser, founder of Love Barnet, urged High Barnet to embrace change.

“The Spires is run down and is in dire need of regenerating. The planned avenue through the centre could offer a major uplift to the High Street.

“Maybe the residential development plans are too high, but it is revenue driven to offset the cost of redevelopment, so we need to be flexible.”

Residents of Salisbury Road express their concern about the height of the proposed flats – concern that was shared by residents of Chipping Close where the vacant market site would be redeveloped with new homes ranging in height from three storeys to up to five storeys where they backed on to Bruce Road.

Perhaps the issue that attracted the most determined questioning was BYM’s plan to build two storeys of flats on top of the multi-storey car park – replacing the upper floor and adding another storey.

Josh Milne, BYM transport consultant, said this would reduce the number of spaces in the car park from 440 to 100 to 150 spaces, and some of these would be reserved for residents in the flats.

Mr Milne defended what the description of the plan said was a “car lite” development that would not result in “excessive parking stress in the area”.

Occupants of the 250 flats, which would include one-, two- and three-bedroom homes, would not be allowed to obtain places in nearby controlled parking zones.

Reducing the size of the car park was justified because current use rarely exceeded 50 per cent of capacity and surveys had shown there was spare space in other car parks around the town centre.

BYM intends to continue consultations with the community until the summer, but comments should be submitted by the end of May if they are to influence any revision of the plans.

A planning application should be ready by the autumn and BYM hope to have obtained planning permission from Barnet Council by the winter of 2023/24 ready for construction work to start in late 2024 or early 2025.

Dean Jordan told the Barnet Society that BYM had extensive experience of delivering residential developments. So far, the company had completed 1,000 homes and had another 2,000 in the planning process.

Once planning permission had been obtained for The Spires redevelopment, BYM would aim to team up with another house builder or developer to carry out the construction work.