Controversial plans to build eight new three storey houses with twelve parking spaces on the land of 85-87 Woodside Avenue, at the rear of Lauradale Road, have been sensationally withdrawn 24 hours before the Council’s Planning Sub-Committee was to discuss them. Local Lib Dem councillors for Fortis Green ward have welcomed the news.

“This is great news and a fantastic result for the residents who fought such an organised and clear campaign against these proposals,” said Fortis Green councillor Matt Davies (Lib Dem).

“This planning application was totally unacceptable for the site and the area. Child safety, wildlife and environmental impact, traffic and parking, loss of amenity to surrounding residents – there were just so many things wrong with these proposals it was sometimes difficult to know where to start! But local residents, the primary school and myself were able to put the case successfully and the Council officers upheld the majority of our objections.”

The application was recommended for refusal and was due to be discussed by the Planning Sub-Committee on Wednesday 30th July. However, the day before the would-be developers contacted the Council to say they were withdrawing the application. If they wish to submit a new proposal for the site then the consultation process must start from scratch again.

There were over 60 letters of objection from residents to the application, a sizeable petition of signatures from parents of children at nearby Tetherdown Primary School and objections from Muswell Hill Friends of the Earth. On Monday 21st July, Cllr Davies also spoke to a meeting of around 60 residents who had gathered to organise opposition to the proposed development.

Cllr Davies comments:

“Local residents and their ward councillors are delighted that these proposals are now dead in the water. If new plans are submitted for this site in the future, I know I can call on the expertise and enthusiasm of a huge group of residents to fight any unsuitable developments.”