Keeping an eye on development
Members of our very active Planning Committee monitor all significant planning applications in each of the six wards of Finchley and Friern Barnet. We do not hesitate to object to development that we believe would be harmful to our area and to those who live here; equally, we support well designed proposals that would make the area more attractive.
To this end we receive the lists of applications from the Borough which we distribute to individual members of the team (monitors) who consider each one on its merits. There are of course many applications which are small and which will have no detrimental effect on the area and these are not commented on, but those of more importance are carefully scrutinized and, if considered necessary, letters written to the Council expressing our views on the proposals.
Councillors are made aware of our views and we sometimes speak at Council committee meetings when a particularly important scheme is being considered. Our views carry weight, but are not always accepted!
We comment on Government consultation papers and have made many suggestions for improving the draft version of the Borough's revised Unitary Development Plan, which maps out the future of the Barnet's environment for the next ten years and beyond. We also take part in planning appeals, both ‘for’ and ‘against’ the Council. Some have involved long and tough legal cases with witnesses and cross-examination of professional experts.
If there is a planning proposal for scheme near you that is causing you some concern, we may be able to help. In the first instance contact our Secretary, contact details below. Current major schemes under consideration
National Planning Policy Framework
The Government is currently consulting on a National Planning Policy
Framework intended to reduce to under sixty pages the twenty-five
or so Planning Policy Statements that have appeared over the past
decades, and to embody the Coalition Government's planning policy.
This draft Framework has caused great consternation; the National
Trust has been to the fore in criticising it, fearing that it would
lead to urban sprawl, and the loss of much-loved parts of the countryside
outside specially protected areas like the Green Belt. Its dangers
are, however, far from being restricted to rural areas. Because it
states starkly and clearly "Local planning authorities should
plan positively for new development, and approve all individual proposals
wherever possible" it would make it much more difficult for councils
to listen to local people and amenity societies who have well-founded
objections to planning applications. There are many other flaws in
the document - it removes the presumption in favour of development
on 'brownfield' sites, so that developers will more likely to build
on greenfield land; it weakens the presumption in favour of commercial,
especially office, development in town centres, and so will make some
of our town centres struggle even more; and it makes no mention of
London.
The Finchley Society is a member of the London Forum of Civic and
Amenity Societies, and of the new national organisation Civic Voice;
both of these are putting the arguments against the Framework as it
stands, and we are supporting them in this. David Smith, as our Chairman,
has written to our MP Mike Freer telling him of our worries, and there
are signs that he is listening. We hope that all this will lead the
Government to make significant changes to the Framework, without abandoning
its aims of simplifying the planning system, and encouraging "smart
growth" – securing economic recovery alongside social,
cultural and environmental progress.
At the same time, the Localism Bill is going through Parliament; it
includes provision for 'neighbourhood' plans, which may be a real
opportunity for organisations like ours. The next newsletter will
include something about this subject. If we are to take advantage
of opportunities, and help to ensure that the right planning decisions
are made in Finchley, we need a greater number of active members on
our Planning Committee. I hope all who read this will put themselves
forward. Peter Pickering
The text of a recent talk by Peter Pickering on planning matters can be accessed here (76 kb PDF)
An extensive library
Over the years the Planning Committee has built up an extensive library of documentation on Planning matters. In this library we now have a series of 'Design Guidance notes' published some years ago by Barnet Borough. These gave some guidance on what changes to the local scene would be regarded as likely or otherwise to be granted planning approval. Barnet confirms that these notes are still valid. To see these notes visit Barnet House, phone 8359 4427 or contact Mike, below. We have:
No. 1 Advertising and Signs
No. 2 Selection and siting of satellite antennae
No. 3 Construction of hard standings and vehicle cross-overs
No. 4 Removal or alteration of chimney stacks
No. 5 Extensions to houses
No. 6 Replacement of windows and doors
No. 9 Walls, fences and gates
The Planning Committee
| Chairman | Carol Halls | 020 8445 6172 carolhalls@uwclub.net |
| Secretary | Mike Dawson | 020 8346 4232 mkdawson4@yahoo.co.uk |
