Highgate councillor Bob Hare and a group of local campaigners are to meet developers this week to push for changes to reduce the impact of a controversial and unpopular retail development along the Archway Road in Highgate.

Cllr Hare says that moves must be made to minimise the impact of the “horror story” retail development set to appear at the north end of Archway Road. Local residents have been angered and dismayed at the plans, which would see three brightly coloured retail warehouses constructed on the large and highly sensitive site adjacent to Highgate Wood.

Cllr Hare says he fears the plans may not be stopped, as permission for the controversial development was given by Haringey Council back in September 2000.He now wants the developers to agree to changes in materials and other important features, such as the lighting and screening through additional tree planting, so that the four new warehouses do not create such a dramatic eyesore and inconvenience for local residents.

Local resident and campaigner, Carol Wilson says:

“We are very hopeful that the developers, Wolesley, will recognise the concerns of the local community in modifying their aggressive design. We need changes to the development so that it will blend and harmonise better with the woodland behind and not detract from the local amenity.”

Cllr Bob Hare adds:

“We must persuade the developer to modify the proposals. The impact of the present plans will be felt not only by nearby residents, but by Highgate people more widely, who have until now enjoyed a semi-rural view over the ‘old-style’ builders yard to the woodland behind.

“The present proposals will also affect users of Highgate Woods, where the new buildings and lighting will be visible from the sports field and other areas of the wood. I will continue to work with residents and with Lynne Featherstone to get a better deal for the area.”

Notes:

The meeting will take place on Wednesday 18 June.

Wolesley Centres Ltd (of Ripon, N Yorks) are the developers.

Local campaigners attending will be Mike Hammerson of Highgate Society, and representatives from Haringey Planning and, it is hoped, representatives from the Corporation of London (for Highgate Woods).

The change in the character of the area as a result of this development will be very significant. The scale of the new buildings is much greater than the buildings that were on site:an area of young (self-sown) woodland alongside Archway Road and contiguous and merging with Highgate Woods has been felled to help make way for the development. There will also be traffic impacts from what is likely to be a much busier site with a much wider range of goods (‘Builder Center’ (sic) and ‘Just Bathrooms’) than the former builders yard.