PLANNING APPLICATION 1 ... RAVENSFIELD/FENELLA/1-3 BURROUGHS PARADE/EGERTON GDNS CAR PARK
Welcome to The Burroughs, Hendon, the civic centre of Barnet and the historic heart of Hendon. The Burroughs Conservation Area was established in 2012.
Hendon Town Hall is where Barnet councillors hold their meetings (inside the rooms that haven't been leased to Middlesex University). Next door is our iconic 100-year-old library, soon to become Middlesex University Business School. And next to that, the old fire station.
On the other side of the road stands Ravensfield and Fenella: two bland buildings both used by Middlesex University, a small parade of shops with flats above and Egerton Gardens car-park. The plan is to build something new on the site of all the above. So far so potentially interesting (except for the many residents who use the car park).
Here are some photographs of The Burroughs/top of Egerton Gdns:
And here are the proposals for the new buildings on The Burroughs that will be facing the Town Hall, Hendon Library (which will become Middlesex University Business School) and the Fire Station:
View of Ravensfield/Fenella/Carpark site from The Burroughs - where's all that mysterious countryside between the buildings come from?!
OUT OF CHARACTER!
According to Cllr Dan Thomas, Leader of Barnet Council, in his message to Hendon residents on September 30th: "... new buildings are designed sympathetically and in-keeping with the character of the area.".
Except they're not in keeping with the character of the area, are they Cllr Thomas.
A 0.1 second glance is all it takes to see that these buildings are definitely out of place on that stretch of The Burroughs.
These buildings would dominate ALL the civic/listed buildings and churches in the area. The proposals for the library across the road makes it even worse - rebuilding Building 9 & making the library more dense and bulky do not negate the effects of these new builds. It only gives you the impression, whichever direction you come from, that you have arrived at Middlesex University campus, not at the historic heart of Hendon.
HENDON HUBBUB!
The Burroughs is a narrow road that is congested with traffic for hours a day.
From Egerton Gardens junction to Babington Road junction, The Burroughs is 175 yards/160m/0.1 mile/528 ft. (Google dimensions) Users of the proposed buildings in this space will be:
- Library users
- MDX students and staff - educational facility Block 1
- MDX students living in Block 2
- Myriad community groups plus NGOs - African Cultural Association, Meridian Wellbeing, Citizens Advice Bureau
- Retail shops (Lido Chinese, Costcutters, Beauty Salon to be moved here), - - MDX Marketing suite
- Visitors to Safer Neighbourhood Team
- Deliveries to buildings
- Servicing/Maintenance personnel
- Cleaning Staff etc etc
- Pedestrians - local residents, school children and parents/carers, church goers, park and allotment users, users of public transport (the bus stops are not moving), people visiting the Town Hall or businesses in the area and in nearby high streets, visitors to residential roads etc etc
- Motorists using The Burroughs - residents or business clients, school runs etc etc
WOW! THIS WILL SURELY BE THE MOST CONGESTED PART OF HENDON WHEN ALL THESE ARE BUILT AND IN FULL USE! Better start organising friendly local litter picking groups. OY! STOP STARING!
The buildings are way too tall.
Surely ALL REAR GARDENS of Babington Road and Egerton Gardens will be overlooked by some of the 16 penthouse student units on the 7th Storey (6th floor of the plans) of B2 towers!!
It doesn't matter that you are supposedly 'far away' enough. The overlooking is unacceptable.
Next thing the developer will say is that they will put frosted windows in, as was suggested by the developer of the new private residential block for 180 students on Watford Way recently approved by Barnet Council ....so students in St Mary's & St John's would not be overlooked in their school playground!!!
SCALE THESE BUILDINGS DOWN, BARNET COUNCIL!
THAT'S WHAT I THINK. BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Have your say!
Planning Application 1 of 8
Ravensfield House, Fenella Buildings, 1 - 3 Burroughs Parade and 3 Egerton Gardens The Burroughs London NW4 4BD
21/4709/FUL
Existing Footprint of RFC buildings in green.
Proposed RFC Building footprint in red. Not even indicated the paved over hardstanding in the front of buildings and carpark at the rear.
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