Edgware, 19 December 2024 – A new Local Plan for the Borough of Barnet is set to be approved in early 2025. This plan will significantly impact future development in the borough, including the controversial Broadwalk Development in Edgware.
- Barnet’s Draft Local Plan proposes building 2,316 homes on “site 28”, an 8.17-hectare area which encompasses:
- Edgware’s Northern Line station, tracks and sidings (c.36% of the site)
- The current bus station and bus garage (c.33% of the site)
- Deans Brook Nature Reserve (c.31% of the site).
The Draft Local Plan assigns the highest permitted housing density to Site 28’s 8.17 hectares, which is in a suburban area in the outskirts of Greater London.
- Ballymore’s plan for the Broadwalk Development envisages construction on only part of site 28 plus the site of the Broadwalk shopping centre and car parks.
Commenting on the Draft Local Plan, Anuta Zack of Save Our Edgware said:
“We have concluded that the allocation for Site 28 is both illogical and unsound, as the majority of the site is unsuitable for development. The only physically viable areas for construction are the bus garage and bus station sites.
“This becomes evident in Ballymore’s application, where nearly all the planned construction on Site 28 is concentrated on the bus garage and bus station land. The allocation of housing for the entire 8.17 hectares has effectively been compressed into roughly one-third of the site. This triples the housing density in that area, which is likely to exacerbate mental health and social problems due to overcrowding.
“While the bus station and bus garage land may technically support development, replacing these essential services – particularly with an underground electric bus garage – raises serious concerns about transportation efficiency and public safety.
“We support development that is safe, sustainable, and practical for the community. Unfortunately, the Draft Local Plan’s proposals for Site 28 risk creating outcomes that are the very opposite of these goals.”
Background information:
| Background | Save Our Edgware’s observations | |
| Northern Line station, tracks and sidings | Developing on operational railway infrastructure would pose significant safety risks and logistical challenges, and transport safeguarding issues. | |
| Bus Station | Edgware’s 68-seater covered bus station is one of London’s busiest. There are 3,300 daily bus movements on Station Road, Edgware, which are overwhelmingly served by the bus station. | · The absence of a comparable replacement would severely impact accessibility, particularly for vulnerable groups like the elderly and disabled. · Increased bus stops on Station Road will exacerbate traffic congestion and disrupt local residents. · The loss of a covered, seated facility with CCTV will compromise passenger safety and comfort. |
| Bus Garage | The present bus garage is in the open air. The Draft Local Plan does not specify a replacement – although Ballymore proposes a replacement bus garage for 200 Electric Buses underneath high-rise blocks. | London Fire Brigade (LFB) has cited potential fire hazards associated with lithium batteries, making the proposal unsafe for residents and shoppers (Source BBC). LFB has flagged it as a serious safety risk. |
| Deans Brook Nature Reserve | Deans Brook Nature Reserve supports protected species like bats and slow worms.
Deans Brook is a two-kilometre-long stream, part of which is within site 28. It is a tributary of the Silk Stream, which flows into the River Brent and eventually the Thames. | Building on this ecologically sensitive land will lead to significant biodiversity loss, increased flood risks, and damage to the local ecosystem.
In the event of a fire at the proposed electric bus garage, there is a high risk of large-scale contamination. |
Contact:
Anuta Zack
Email: saveouredgware@gmail.com
Website: Save Our Edgware
About Save Our Edgware
Save Our Edgware is a grassroots community group committed to protecting the character, safety, and sustainability of Edgware Town Centre. Our mission is to ensure that any redevelopment prioritises the needs of local residents, respects heritage, and upholds the highest safety standards for future generations.