We, the undersigned residents and supporters of Finchley and the wider Barnet community, call upon Regal London and Barnet Council to reconsider the proposed redevelopment of the Great North Leisure Park (GNLP). This plan threatens to replace well-used, affordable community spaces with excessive, high-rise housing, while failing to meet the actual housing needs of local people.

Regal London has now submitted a formal planning application (Ref: 25/0213/FUL) for this redevelopment. You can view the full application on the Barnet Council website: https://publicaccess.barnet.gov.uk/online-applications/.

For decades, the Great North Leisure Park has been a vital social and recreational space for families, young people, and disabled residents, offering affordable entertainment options such as Hollywood Bowl, Vue Cinema, Finchley Lido, a gym, and restaurants. These facilities provide a safe, accessible, and affordable environment for all age groups—particularly young people, who are already at risk of losing vital social spaces.

What’s Actually Happening?

Finchley Lido: Barnet Council plans to demolish and rebuild the Finchley Lido Leisure Centre, as the council owns it and it was always intended to remain. The planning statement confirms the new leisure centre will be 6,944 sqm compared to the current 2,171 sqm facility.

Hollywood Bowl and Vue Cinema: These popular venues are set to be permanently removed from the site. The planning statement confirms there is "no planning policy protection over these uses" and "no requirement to retain or replace them on the site or off-site." While smaller versions may eventually be built near Lodge Lane Car Park, there are no guarantees, and they'll have minimal parking and limited accessibility.

Massive Overdevelopment: The developer proposes 1,502 homes in buildings up to 25 storeys (82.75m high). This is more than four times the 352 homes suggested in the draft Local Plan and represents a density of 305 dwellings per hectare - completely out of character with our suburban area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Affordable Housing Shortfall: Only 23% of units (325 homes) are designated as 'affordable.' This falls short of Mayor Sadiq Khan's typical requirement of at least 35% affordable housing in major developments, and 50% on public land. The planning statement admits the scheme falls below the 40% "blended rate" threshold required for fast-track approval.

Unrealistic Parking: The development provides just 0.18 parking spaces per unit (268 spaces for 1,502 homes) despite the site having a PTAL rating of only 1b/2, meaning poor public transport accessibility.

Why This Cannot Go Ahead

Loss of Essential Facilities: The planning statement confirms the removal of 9,937 sqm of existing leisure uses. Hollywood Bowl, Vue Cinema, and Finchley Lido are vital for all age groups, especially young people, families, and disabled residents. These are the only affordable recreational outlets in the area. While the leisure centre will expand, there's still a net loss of overall leisure space. The developer's own assessment acknowledges a diversion of at least £14.7m in leisure expenditure away from the site. For many, these facilities are a crucial part of daily life.

Crime Risk: The development claims to focus on reducing crime rates, yet it removes the only accessible spaces for young people. Without these social spaces, the risk of anti-social behaviour and youth crime will rise. Young people are being pushed out of their community spaces without any proper alternatives.
 
Infrastructure Crisis: Adding 3,280 new residents with no additional school places, GP surgeries, or transport improvements will overwhelm already strained local services. The development will increase primary healthcare patients by 5%, shifting the GP to patient ratio from 2,237 to 2,345, further exceeding the benchmark of 1,800 patients per GP. The existing infrastructure cannot support this massive increase in population.
 

Wrong Housing Mix & Affordability: With 40.8% one-bedroom units (613 units) and only 23% affordable homes (325 units), this fails to meet Barnet's housing needs. This is woefully inadequate given the urgent need for truly affordable housing for local families, key workers, and vulnerable people.

Environmental Harm: The proposal includes building on protected Metropolitan Open Land (which has the same protection as Green Belt) and admits "minor adverse impacts" on daylight and sunlight for neighbouring properties. It will also cast additional shadow on the Glebelands local nature reserve in afternoons and evenings throughout the year.

No Community Amenities: Despite its scale, the development includes zero community facilities like halls, nurseries, or healthcare. Regal claims these would fall under Barnet Council's responsibility, but such vital amenities should be integrated into any major development.

Poor Location & Parking: The site has a PTAL rating of only 1b/2 (Public Transport Accessibility Level - a measure of public transport connectivity where 0 is worst and 6b is best) and provides just 0.18 parking spaces per home (268 spaces for 1,502 flats). The leisure centre will have only 4 long-stay cycle parking spaces despite promoting sustainable transport. This is insufficient given existing traffic and congestion.

Visual Impact Concerns: The planning application includes a 25-storey tower (82.75m high) that would be the tallest in the area. To put this in perspective, this tower would be approximately the same height as Westminster Cathedral or roughly the height of 20 double-decker buses stacked on top of each other. The proposal also includes buildings of 17, 16, and 9 storeys that would dramatically change the character of our suburban area. The planning statement even admits "less than substantial harm" to the Grade II St Pancras and Islington Cemetery* due to the development's visibility.

Profit Over Community: This massive overdevelopment with a floor area ratio of 3.3:1 benefits the developer while the local community suffers the loss of essential facilities. The density of 305 dwellings per hectare is completely out of character with our suburban area.
 

Mayor Sadiq Khan has expressed concerns about the development's impact on the local area, highlighting its potential to displace existing community facilities and increase pressure on local infrastructure.

🚨 Act Now – Time is Running Out!🚨

This is NOT a done deal—but we must act fast. The council is accepting objections for a limited time.

How to Object:

1. Email your objection to planning.consultation@barnet.gov.uk quoting reference 25/0213/FUL
   
   
2. Submit online through the Barnet Council planning portal: https://publicaccess.barnet.gov.uk/online-applications/
   
   
3. Share this petition with neighbours, friends and family who care about our community
    

Barnet Planning Application Reference: 25/0213/FUL

References

All information and statistics in this petition are taken directly from the developer's own planning statement (Application Ref: 25/0213/FUL). Key references include:

Building heights: Section 5, Table 5.6 confirms Building E at 25 storeys (82.75m high), with other buildings at 17, 16 and 9 storeys.

Housing numbers and density: 1,502 homes proposed at a density of 305 dwellings per hectare (Section 9, Table 9.7), compared to 352 homes suggested in the draft Local Plan.

Affordable housing: Only 23% affordable housing (325 units) is proposed (Section 9), below the Mayor's 35% requirement and the 40% "blended rate" threshold.

Loss of leisure facilities: 9,937 sqm of existing leisure uses to be removed (Section 9), with "no planning policy protection over these uses" and "no requirement to retain or replace them on the site or off-site."

Parking provision: Only 0.18 parking spaces per unit (268 spaces for 1,502 homes) despite a PTAL rating of only 1b/2 (Sections 3 and 5).

Impact on Metropolitan Open Land: The proposal includes building on protected Metropolitan Open Land with acknowledged "minor adverse impacts" on neighboring properties (Sections 9).

New residents: The development will add approximately 3,280 new residents to the area (Section 9).Scale of development: Floor area ratio of 3.3:1 represents massive overdevelopment for this location (Section 9, Table 9.7).

Environmental impact: Section 9 of the planning statement acknowledges "minor adverse impacts" on daylight, sunlight and overshadowing for neighboring properties. The development also includes building on Metropolitan Open Land (which has the same protection as Green Belt) for the lido and sports pavilion.

To view the planning documents yourself, visit: https://publicaccess.barnet.gov.uk/online-applications/ and search for reference 25/0213/FUL.