Affordable housing approved despite concerns from neighboring school UK News

Barnet Council planning chiefs recommended the scheme for approval, saying in a report that it would provide “much needed affordable housing and make more efficient use of a brownfield site”.

But Bruce McGill, chairman of the governors of Coppetts Wood Primary School, said plans for a four-storey building would impact the education and prospects of the 280 children who attend the school.

Speaking at a meeting of the council’s strategic planning committee on June 16, he said the project would make staff retention problems worse by building on land that had been used as a school car park for 40 years.

He also warned that “noise, dust and vibration” caused by construction would be “incredibly disruptive” to children with autism and other special educational needs.

Mr McGill added: ‘We need more social housing in Barnet, but this should not come at the expense of the education and life chances of some of Barnet’s most vulnerable children.’

Aerial view of the development site next to Coppetts Wood Primary School. Credit: Google Maps

Meera Bedi, head of new construction at municipal corporation The Barnet Group, told the committee that a “robust demolition and construction logistics management plan” would reduce any impact on the school.

She added: ‘Barnet Council would like to partner with this school and add social value, including a built and natural environment education programme.

When asked by advisers, Meera said the Barnet Group would consider building an acoustic wall to lessen the impact of the construction work. She said the group had discussed with the school ways to reduce nuisance, such as doing the noisiest work during the holidays.

Ms Bedi said that as the scheme was for 100 per cent affordable housing, the development could not also provide replacement school parking. But she added that a previous planning application had identified a playground next to the school as suitable for parking spaces and suggested the school could raise funds to develop the land.