The Planning Committee of Barnet Council met on Wednesday 11 March 2026, confirming a Tree Preservation Order for an oak tree at 64 Kingsley Way, approving the demolition of a dwelling at 26 Renters Avenue to construct four flats, and granting retrospective permission for a change of use to a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) at 48 Babington Road. The committee also refused an application for the retention of a change of use from two to three self-contained flats at 52 Greenfield Gardens.

64 Kingsley Way, London N2 0EW

The committee voted to confirm the Tree Preservation Order (TPO) for a mature English oak tree at 64 Kingsley Way. The tree, located in the Hampstead Garden Suburb, was identified as having veteran tree features, including a significant cavity and a historic lean, which contribute to its ecological value and make it an irreplaceable habitat under the National Planning Policy Framework[^1]. The applicant, Mr. James Grant, argued that the tree posed an immediate safety risk due to decay and a significant lean, presenting independent arboricultural assessments classifying it as a Category C tree with limited remaining life expectancy. However, council officers maintained that the tree was stable, with adaptive growth compensating for hollowing, and that any potential risks could be managed through a crown reduction rather than complete removal. The decision to confirm the TPO was made by a vote of four in favour to two against.

26 Renters Avenue, London NW4 3RB

The committee approved the demolition of the existing dwelling at 26 Renters Avenue and the erection of a new two-storey building with a basement, light wells, and rooms in the roof space to provide four self-contained flats. This decision follows a series of previous refusals and appeals related to similar proposals, primarily concerning the provision of light and outlook for basement units. The current application addresses these concerns through revised internal layouts, ensuring that most basement rooms are ancillary rather than habitable, and incorporating stepped light wells. The proposal was recommended for approval subject to a Section 106 agreement[^2] for contributions towards tree planting and monitoring, and a vote of five in favour to one abstention.

52 Greenfield Gardens, NW2 1HX

The application for the retention of a change of use from two to three self-contained flats at 52 Greenfield Gardens was refused. The committee's decision was based on concerns regarding the raised ground levels at the rear of the property and their impact on the neighbouring property at number 50. Councillors expressed that the raised ground levels were causing pressure on the boundary fence and potentially leading to flooding issues for the neighbour. While officers acknowledged the neighbour's concerns about the fence and potential flooding, they initially considered these to be private property matters. However, after extensive discussion, the committee voted to refuse the application on the grounds that the raised garden levels had an unacceptable detrimental effect on the neighbouring property, specifically concerning the resulting fence height and the pressure exerted on the fence. This decision was reached by a vote of six in favour of refusal.

48 Babington Road, London NW4 4LD

The committee approved the retrospective application for a change of use from a single dwellinghouse to a five-bedroom House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) at 48 Babington Road. This approval followed a previous refusal for an identical application, but updated information regarding the Public Transport Accessibility Level (PTAL)[^3] of the site, now assessed as 'Good' (PTAL 4), and an appeal decision for a similar property at 24 Babington Road, were considered material considerations. The appeal inspector had noted that the area's character was already diverse and that an additional HMO would not be an unusual addition, nor cause significant detriment. The council's HMO officer confirmed the property is licensed for five occupants and is well-managed. The committee approved the application with conditions, including a limit of five occupants and requirements for refuse and cycle storage, by a unanimous vote.