We held a third round of engagement on the North Finchley Masterplan and Lodge Lane planning applications.

Three consultation events were held at Northside Primary School, next to the Lodge Lane site, in July 2024 with 325 attendees visiting in total.

The feedback suggested that attendees agree with the principle of redeveloping the North Finchley Town Centre to create a safer, greener area. In addition:

• Almost half of respondents (46%) visit the town centre every day with a further 31% visiting several times per week.
• The town centre would benefit from development with 86 % of respondents rated the existing amenities ‘very poor’ to ‘average’ and just 14% rated the existing amenities ‘good’ to ‘very good’.
• 48% of respondents supported plans to reactive the high street and 83% supported plans to include new greenery and tree planting as part of a redevelopment.
• A majority of respondents (56%) supported plans to improve connectivity in the area.
• 77% of people walk to the area, with car (56%) and public transport (42%) also popular methods of transport.
• Just 13% said they cycled as their main form of transport, however attendees at the event said they would like to see improved cycling infrastructure as it was currently unsafe to cycle.
• A clear majority of respondents (65%) supported plans to increase pedestrian safety by widening footpaths.
• 51% supported providing new homes as part of the plans to redevelop Lodge Lane and the wider town centre and 57% supported plans for retail and leisure usage.
• Some attendees had concerns about the height of the proposals, the impact on local infrastructure such as schools and public transport, whether enough parking spaces were provided in the proposals, and issues related to wind tunnels.

The key themes from the open comment boxes in the feedback and our response can be viewed below:

Building heights: While there was a consensus that the wider North Finchley would benefit from redevelopment, there was concern expressed about the heights of buildings both in Lodge Lane and mostly regarding the 25-storey building proposed within Plot B.

We recognise some local concern about the height of the proposals but note that North Finchley town centre with it’s good transport links, is an ideal location for new homes, which makes it suitable for taller buildings. The buildings will be designed to the highest quality and will help ensure North Finchley town centre continues to be a place where people are proud to live, work and socialise.

Infrastructure: Some were concerned about local infrastructure capacity, including school places, demand for GPs and dentists. There was also a concern that local bus and underground services would be overstretched, as they would need to be used more due to a lack of parking facilities.

As part of this planning application, we are required to assess the impact of the proposed development and to make Community Infrastructure Levy payments along with a Section 106 agreement to make financial contributions to delivering local services in Barnet. This will help fund additional possible school places, new healthcare facilities, and other infrastructure improvements across the borough.

Parking: Despite the majority stating that they usually walk to North Finchley town centre, respondents expressed concern at the reduction of parking at Lodge Lane and the car-free aspect for the new homes across all sites. Respondents expressed a worry about the impact this may have on the local businesses if car parking became a difficulty for those coming into North Finchley.

Car parking will still be provided at Lodge Lane Car Park. There will be a total of 84 parking spaces provided, 81 of which will be for public use, while three will be for residential wheelchair use. There will be no loss of disabled parking or loading bays across the town centre. The proposals are designed with sustainable transport methods in mind so the anticipated use of cars locally is lower than current levels.

Wind tunnels: Many respondents expressed concerns that the development would create more wind tunnels in the town centre, citing the artsdepot as an example, and that taller buildings could exacerbate this.

The planning application when submitted will include an Environmental Impact Assessment including an assessment of wind conditions. This will assess the impacts of the proposed development and will include plans for mitigation to be put in place should the assessment determine that such a need for mitigation arises.

Impact on traffic: Many residents were concerned about the impact of High Road having two-way traffic, as well as the closing of one end of Nether Street and the general traffic that could occur on Lodge Lane. The principle of widening pavements to improve pedestrian safety was popular but there were concerns this would be at the expense of slowing down traffic.

The proposed development places a strong emphasis on sustainable transport solutions to enhance accessibility and minimise environmental impact. Prioritising sustainable modes of transport aligns with our commitment to creating an environmentally conscious development in North Finchley. The plan includes an emphasis on promoting walking, cycling, and the use of public transportation. As part of the application, traffic modelling will be undertaken to access any impact and mitigation that may be required.

Affordable housing: Some respondents wanted more clarity on the affordable housing provisions in the proposals. There was a general worry that the scheme could price local people out of the area.

We are committed to providing new affordable homes within the masterplan. We are in discussions with the local authority and the GLA with our intention to provide a significant level of affordable housing with a mix of tenures at North Finchley.