Plans for new homes at Wood Green timber yard win approval

Councillors voted unanimously to approve the 36-home scheme despite concerns being raised by neighbours over loss of privacy, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Wood Green Timber Co Ltd and (inset) plans for new homes on the site

A 36-home development at a Wood Green timber yard has been unanimously approved despite concerns over height and loss of privacy.

Haringey councillors backed the fully private housing scheme yesterday (Monday 8th) at a planning sub-committee.

Blocks of up to five storeys will be built on the site of Wood Green Timber Co. Ltd in High Road alongside five mews homes to the rear. The development, submitted by site owner John Silvester, has 21 one-bedroom homes, five two-bed homes and ten three-bed homes.

Approximately 400 square metres of amenity space is being provided alongside one accessible parking bay with a potential for two more.

However, Trinity Road resident Oscar French, whose house would back onto the mews homes, said the development had not “considered or respected” the impact on residents.

He said the heights were not shown early in the process and evidence was not provided to show there would be “no adverse affects”.

Oscar added: “When the application was submitted it became clear that there had not been that much regard for our concerns about loss of privacy, loss of outlook and the overpowering effect of the new boundary and buildings built directly at the end of our gardens.”

Committee member and Labour councillor Cathy Brennan said she understood his concern. Currently, Trinity Road residents “had no windows” from other homes facing their gardens and the new development would change that, but the councillor asked what Oscar proposed instead.

Oscar said residents wanted a “different” design that did not overlook gardens and properties.

Richard Truscott, a council urban design officer, said the mews’ first floor bedroom windows would “overlook the existing gardens” in Trinity Road but not look into the houses.

Committee member Sean O’Donovan commented on the concerns businesses in Neville Place had raised, as they needed lorries and large vans to deliver supplies and the development could impact access.

Maurice Richards, Haringey Council’s head of transport and travel, said the plan “didn’t change the existing situation” and “that section of road remains narrow in terms of the parking”.

He added he didn’t “see it as a safety issue at this point” but explained an independent road safety audit would be carried out to “make sure the scheme is safe in terms of design”.

Council officer Samuel Uff explained £250,000 was being offered in place of affordable housing provision on the site, which was considered unviable. He added the amount could cover “one family unit” or a “four-bed family home in the area”.

Frances Young, a planning consultant from Studio Y2 who was representing the applicant, said the scheme was “carefully designed” and made “effective use of this highly accessible brownfield site for much-needed housing”.

Following the nearly one-hour meeting councillors unanimously approved the development.

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