Dear finchley@homesforNHSstaff.co.uk,
Please find my feedback on the proposal for development of the green and open space at Finchley memorial Hospital (FMH) below .
My concerns with the proposal are as follows :
– Does the developer have the right to build on this land ?. The original FMH Planning pledged :
“The site of the demolished hospital would become a publically accessible open space and the redundant Bow Lane Playing Fields, occupying the site’s southern area, would be developed as grass playing fields comprising two five a-side and one junior pitch, to be used by Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School.” So, is this development allowed under the current planning provisions for the site ?
– Loss of green space, which is in short supply and belongs to us all. The proposed landscaped garden in between blocks of flats in no way compensates for the loss of a large open space.
– Adequacy of parking and impact on surrounding roads which are already full. Granville Road, Bow Lane and Holdenhurst Avenue are already saturated with parking, and cannot tolerate additional weight.
– Increased traffic to a residential area and impact on highway safety.
– Absolutely no guarantee this will be used for NHS staff. Feels like NHS staff are being used as a marketing tool for what will effectively be a commercial development. This cynical manipulation is in itself disgraceful, but also raises a wider concern of the amount of trust the community can have in the developer.
– 4 and 6 storey blocks adjacent and opposite to 2 storey Victorian houses does not adhere to Policy DM01 of Barnet’s planning policy :
Page 11
“b. Development proposals should be based on an understanding of local characteristics. Proposals should preserve or enhance local character and respect the appearance, scale, mass, height and pattern of surrounding buildings, spaces and streets.”
– Strong likelihood this will become a rental block, with the consequential impact on community foundations.
– Pushing the consultation through during a pandemic which diminishes the community’s ability to discuss.
– Impact to daylight on surrounding area.
I confirm I live in the FGG constituency and my MP is Mike Freer.
Thanks,
Robert