Barnet Council is inviting feedback on the council’s plans for developing the borough over the next 15 years.
Have your say on our Local Plan
The Local Plan sets out how the borough is going to grow in the years to 2036, with new homes including affordable housing, and new spaces for business, sport and recreation.
Councillor Shimon Ryde, Chair of Barnet’s Planning Committee, said: “Barnet is a great place where people choose to live, work and study. We must plan to make sure it stays that way and has enough homes to accommodate our growing population. We want to hear the views of residents and businesses on our approach to planning for the future of Barnet.”
Barnet’s excellent schools, vibrant town centres, vast green spaces and diverse communities are among the many factors that make it a popular place where people choose to live, work, study and visit.
Growth will be focussed in the most sustainable locations such as town centres and places with good public transport, and will be supported by infrastructure such as schools and health facilities, as well as open spaces.
Barnet is planning for over 3,000 new homes every year for the next 15 years, and is planning for at least 35 per cent to be classed as ‘affordable’ housing. New policies have been introduced on ensuring new homes are built to a liveable size, providing stronger protection for existing housing from conversion and short-term lets, and encouraging wider housing choice with new forms of tenure such as Build to Rent.
There is greater emphasis in the Local Plan on making Barnet’s town centres more attractive and safe places to visit and enjoy during the day and evening as well as encouraging investment.
There is more support for cycling and walking in the Plan and greater promotion of health and wellbeing, particularly in terms of access to good quality open space, including Barnet’s green belt. The Plan also sets out new car parking standards that reflect suburban London and are linked to public transport access.
Consultation on the first formal stage of the Local Plan is now underway and runs until 16 March. Residents can find more information on the Plan and provide feedback on the Engage Barnet website: https://engage.barnet.gov.uk/Draft-Local-Plan-Consultation
There will also be a series of public events, where people can view the Local Plan and discuss it with Council staff. They will be at:
- Barnet Council, 2 Bristol Avenue, Colindale NW9 4EW, from 6.30-8pm on Monday 10 February
- Barnet House, 1255 High Road, Whetstone N20 0EJ, from 6.30-8pm on Tuesday 11 February
- Chipping Barnet Library, 3 Stapylton Road EN5 4QT, from 7-10pm on Wednesday 4 March
- Hendon Town Hall, The Burroughs NW4 4BG, from 7-10pm on Wednesday 4 March
- Finchley Church End Library, 318-320 Gateway House, Regents Park Road N3 2LN from 7-10pm on Wednesday 4 March.