Howells-designed scheme approved yesterday evening after overcoming significant local backlash
Ballymore and Place for London’s 3,300-home redevelopment of Edgware town centre has been approved after receiving than 2,000 objections from members of the public.
Barnet council’s strategic planning committee voted six to three in favour of Howells-designed scheme yesterday evening despite significant opposition to the development including objections from councillors for the borough’s local Edgware ward and the local MP.
The £1.7bn redevelopment of the Broadwalk shopping centre site will include a total of 3,365 homes, including 1,150 for affordable tenures - a 35% share - and 463 student accommodation spaces. half of the affordable homes will be for social rent.
It will also include nearly 12 acres of green space, a new transport interchange and double the site’s existing commercial and leisure space, with 460,000sq ft of new shops, cafés, restaurants and a new cinema.
But the scale of the scheme has provoked a backlash from locals, with the application amassing a total of 2,384 objections against 592 letters of support.
The proposals span five character areas with a total of 31 buildings ranging from five to 29 storeys in height. David Pinto-Duschinsky, the Labour MP for Hendon, said the scheme was too large and urged Ballymore to withdraw its application in his objection to the plans.
“Edgware is a suburban community made up overwhelmingly of low-rise housing. The proposal to add numerous high rise buildings in a small area, the tallest of which will be 29 storeys, is not in keeping with the area and will affect its character,” he said.
Pinto-Duschinsky also called for the scheme to contain more affordable housing.
The London borough of Harrow also issued a “significant and strong” objection to the scheme, which it said would put strain on local transport, health and education services.
One member of the public described the plans as “absolutely atrocious”, arguing they contained “no consideration” of the impact on local services and would worsen traffic issues in the area.
However, the scheme has been backed by many local residents with one writing: “I support these plans because people have no spaces to live due to the current housing situation. I’m personally stuck in it - I can’t move forward, can’t move back.”
The council’s vote for approval was welcomed by Tom Copley, deputy mayor of London for Housing and Residential Development, who said: “This impressive development not only supports our mission to deliver the homes that Londoners need and deserve by bringing close to 3,400 new, high-quality homes, 35% of which will be genuinely affordable, but it is representative of the scale of our ambition to unlock the full potential of towns across the capital.
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“The new green and open space, upgrades to local transport and employment opportunities will have enormous benefits for local businesses and the wider community, helping to build a better, greener city for everyone.”
Graeme Craig, director and chief executive of Places for London, Transport for London’s wholly-owned development company, added: “This development is a clear example of the kind of bold, responsible action needed to address the housing shortage and ensure families have access to safe, secure, and affordable places to live.”
And Ballymore group managing director John Mulryan said: “Our shared vision for Edgware will breathe new life into the town centre - transforming it into a more vibrant, inclusive, and welcoming place for residents, businesses, and visitors alike.”
The developer acquired Broadwalk Shopping Centre in 2020 and said it has undertaken more than four and a half years of engagement with residents, community groups, and interested stakeholders.
The project team includes Gardiner & Theobald on costs, Quod on planning, Mott MacDonald on structure, civils and transport, Hoare Lea on MEP and Montagu Evans on heritage.
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