Barnet Conservatives have criticised The Labour Mayor of London’s decision to increase Barnet’s housing target by a further 909 homes per year to a new annual target of 3,273, warning that residents are being stripped of any meaningful say over future developments in their communities.
The new target comes on top of the Government’s sweeping planning reforms, which significantly reduce the ability of local authorities and local residents to influence development proposals. These reforms enable the mayor and city hall to carry out these proposed impositions.
The incoming Labour Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, pledged to deliver “the biggest rebalancing of power the country has ever seen,” arguing that local leaders understand their communities best. Yet the actions of his party - nationally, in London, and in Barnet - have stood in stark contrast to that ambition.
Conservative Lead on Planning, Cllr Shimon Ryde, said:
“Barnet residents are increasingly asking what the point of local planning is when decisions are being dictated from Whitehall and City Hall. First the Government sets ever higher targets, then the Mayor signs off on them, and Barnet is left to pick up the pieces.”
He continues:
“This proposal by the mayor makes it clear that Barnet is destined to lose parts of the green belt in Totteridge and Mill Hill as well as endure extremely tall buildings that will change the character and skyline of our neighbourhoods forever.”
“As I said in the Council Chamber: Government decrees, the Mayor agrees, and Barnet concedes.”
Barnet Conservatives warned that the latest increase will place further pressure on local services already struggling to cope with rapid population growth.
Conservative Lead on Development Policy, Cllr Josh Mastin-Lee, added:
“We and our residents watch in growing dismay as vast developments are approved backstage, while our concerns are completely ignored. The answer to London’s housing challenges cannot simply be to cram more and more tower blocks into London’s suburbs.”
“Without proper infrastructure or attractive design, without the parking spaces, schools, GP surgeries, transport links and community infrastructure to support them. This is not planning – it’s centralised target-chasing.”
“Barnet has long played a part in delivering new homes, but its “reward” has been a huge increase in its housing targets. What we are seeing is a Zone 1, top-down approach that bulldozes local democracy in Outer London Boroughs to help the London Mayor make up for his failures elsewhere.”
