26/0513/RCU

In the absence of a justification of need, the use results in the loss of a family dwelling for which there is a known demand and, by reason of its distance to a station or town centre and the introduction of an over-intensive use of the site would be incongruous to the established character of the area which is characterised predominantly by single family dwelling houses It undermines the strategic approach which otherwise prioritises meeting needs for family housing as part of the residential conversion and sustainable redevelopment of larger homes, harmfully contributes towards change in the function and character of the street and is incongruous to the established settled residential pattern, to the detriment of the character and amenity of the locality and contrary to Policy D3 of the London Plan (2021), Polices CDH01 and HOU04 of the LB Barnet Local Plan (2025), the Residential Design Guidance SPD (2016) and the Sustainable Design and Construction SPD (2016).

The PTAL rating of 2 indicates limited access to public transport, which does not support sustainable travel patterns. The property's distance from a designated town centre further reduces accessibility to services and amenities, contrary to London Plan Policy SD6 (Town Centres and High Streets), which seeks to focus development in accessible locations with strong links to town centres and public transport. It also conflicts with Barnet Local Plan Policy GSS01 (Delivering Sustainable Growth), which prioritises development in areas well-connected by public transport and near town centres. The development is therefore contrary to Policy SD6 of the London Plan (2021) and Policies GSS01 and HOU04 of the Barnet Local Plan (2025).

The use of the property as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), due to the increased number of households and intensity of occupation, would lead to a significant rise in noise, disturbance, congestion, and disruption. This would occur through increased comings-and-goings and general activity, causing harm to the residential amenity of neighbouring occupiers. The proposal is therefore contrary to Policy D3 of the London Plan (2021), Policies CDH01 and HOU04 of the Barnet Local Plan (2025), and the Residential Design Guidance SPD (2016).

The proposed development, by reason of inadequate minimum floor space for the rear facing bedroom on the second floor and the distance of the second floor bedrooms from the communal ground floor kitchen, would fail to meet the requirements of the Council's HMO Licensing Scheme and comply with relevant standards for Houses in Multiple Occupation, resulting in substandard accommodation, to the detriment of the residential amenity of future occupiers, contrary to the requirements of Policies D3 and D6 of the London Plan (2021) and Policies CDH01 and HOU04 of the LB Barnet Local Plan (2025).

The proposed development does not include sufficient off-street car parking and, when combined with increased number of households/occupancy level and low PTAL score, will result in overspill parking on the highway and surrounding roads, resulting in greater demand for kerbside parking and conditions detrimental to the free flow of traffic, and highway and pedestrian safety in an area with observable levels of existing parking stress, contrary to Policies T4, T6 and T6.1 of the London Plan (2021), Policy TRC03 of the Barnet Local Plan 2021-2036 (adopted 2025).