by Janice McKenzie
Barnet council seems to be in two minds on the future of the Stapylton Road car park site in Chipping Barnet, north London, with an eleventh-hour switch of developers.
The development and estates, finance, housing and public works committees recommended that the council should accept Abacus Developments’ scheme for the 4.7-acre site. The other scheme shortlisted was from Lovell Developments.
The development brief was for 50,000 sq ft of shopping and a possible 10,000 sq ft of offices plus the relocation of the existing Methodist church.
At the full meeting of the council to decide the outcome, one councillor tabled an amendment, which was accepted, thus opening the way for Lovell to come in.
A special meeting of the council has been called for February 24 to discuss the matter.
Abacus blame misleading publicity and lobbying of councillors for the turnaround. Adrian McAlpine, chairman of Abacus, said: “I am concerned that after the appointed committee recommended our scheme following full and professional deliberation, the council rejected this on the basis of misleading publicity and after intense lobbying.
“That is certainly not the way to reach a proper decision in the best interests of the public. I am disappointed in the way the decision has been reached and I expect the council will wish to reconsider its position.”
A spokesman for Lovell said: “The position was, at the first committee stage, that Abacus had been recommended, but one councillor disagreed so strongly with this that he tabled an amendment which was accepted. When councillors had been fully informed, the majority came down on our side and we are now the appointed developers.”
Lovell’s scheme is for a 72,000-sq ft shopping element, with a 26,000-sq ft supermarket, 25 shops of between 535 sq ft and 4,200 sq ft, a food court at first floor and around 600 parking spaces. The project will have an investment value of about £20m and Lovells would be funding it themselves initially, although they would be looking for finance in due course.
Abacus’ scheme is along the same lines.
A spokesman for the council said: “There has been an amendment to the recommendation asking for the other scheme [Lovell] to be approved.
“It doesn’t go through on the nod — there have to be meetings.”
Agents for Lovell are Hillier Parker, Barrington Laurance and Langley Taylor, with Essex Goodman & Suggitt as architects. Architects for Abacus are Seifert and agents Strutt & Parker and Lawson Price. Debenham Tewson & Chinnocks are acting for the council.
