New homes next to busy railway in Bounds Green approved

Plans to build 33 council-rent homes as part of an infill development between existing flats and a railway line have been given the go-ahead by councillors.

Haringey Council has won permission to demolish a disused parking area at Woodridings Court in Crescent Road, Bounds Green, and build four new blocks of four and five storeys.

Situated next to the East Coast Main Line, the scheme will provide ten one-bedroom flats, 19 two-bedroom flats and four three-bedroom units along with play space, landscaping and cycle parking. The development will be ‘car free’, with the exception of three parking spaces provided for Blue Badge holders.

The council received 54 objections to the plans and only one letter in support. Among the concerns raised by opponents were claims that it would be an overdevelopment and out of character with the area, increase traffic congestion, and be affected by noise from the railway line.

Alessandra Rossetti, Liberal Democrat councillor for Alexandra Park ward, told the committee the local area was already congested and the scheme would “increase parking pressure”.

A report by planning officers states that noise and vibration from “occasional” passing trains would have “no material impact” on residents. But Cllr Rossetti said she was “very concerned” about the noise from the railway, adding that a report had failed to reassure her that residents would not be affected by the “47 trains per hour” passing the homes.

Jack Goulde, the council’s project manager for the development, said none of the residents of the existing blocks had objected to the plans because officers had spent 18 months engaging with them.

He added: “A vibration assessment was undertaken by using vibration monitors over a period of days. They monitored all the passing trains, day and night, and a vibration calculation has been done based on a sound engineering philosophy. There will be further design development if planning consent is granted.”

Jack said the scheme would use modern methods of construction, involving the assembly of prefabricated modules. This meant the site would only operate for eight to twelve months, he explained, with road closures for delivery and installation of the modules “limited to less than ten working days”.

Responding to the parking concerns, Maurice Richards, the council’s transportation planning officer, said surveys of surrounding streets showed that even under a worst-case scenario, 57 spaces would be available. He added: “This is a car-free development, in that a car-free restriction will apply to the current CPZ and any future CPZ, and it is a requirement to make sure that residents who move into these flats know that it is a car-free development.”

The proposals were unanimously approved by members of the committee.