Copthall South Fields, London NW7
Update: 05/08/2024 – for Determination date see our page at this link: ‘How to Object‘
Amended Planning Application now in with Barnet Council to determine (original 2016 application refused – but since held as a ‘holding objection’ by GLA).
Our original post with infornation from 2016 can be found HERE below the Updates.
Our 2024 campaign leaflet can be found here: Leaflet 2024.pdf
Mill Hill Preservation Society objection letters – click the below title to go to the link:
– Objection Letter 2016
– Objection Letter 2024
Barnet Council Planning Ref: 16/6662/FUL
16/6662/FUL – Planning Application Documents
(use the Filter: Document Type: ‘Revised Document’ or ‘Application Document’ to omit comments)
Scroll past the ‘comments’, important documents are:
PLANNING STATEMENT UPDATE MAY 2024
and
1441 ADDENDUM DESIGN & ACCESS STATEMENT 2024 HASMONEAN_PART1
1441 ADDENDUM DESIGN & ACCESS STATEMENT 2024 HASMONEAN_PART2
Planning Application Site Boundary: 21 Acres (a Strategic Major Application)
Has the Mayor been lobbied behind closed doors with priviledged access, see this article link (which also shows the proposed building):
Hasmo lobbies Mayor over building plan
Only significant amendment to 2016 plans
– 2.6 acres removed (relinquished) from 2016 plans to ‘mitigate’ loss of Green Belt (area shown in red outline on below map) – plans appear to show a 2.4 mt fence around this area with a security box and gate and the entrance to this area, it appears that the public will be denied unfettered access ?
– Drop off and Pick up Facility removed from amended plans, but Mill Hill Rugby Club car park now added to plans.
Area protected as SLINC (Sites of Local Importance to Nature Conservation), a natural, public amenity, full of wildlife, trees, biodiverse – this setting lost forever.
No ‘Very Special Circumstances’ proven to destroy our Green Belt, it is ‘inappropriate’ development, and will result in harm to the Green Belt. Its openess lost, just narrow and disjonted areas of land left for public access, the once wild rural and open setting gone.
15,300 sq mt of buildings, the main building 4 storeys high (when viewed from the rear), 167 parking spaces, the overwhelming footprint and height of the giant structure looming over all. (to give some sense of scale of the building, the average size of a semi detached house is approx. 100 sq mt.)
7.13 acres of publicly owned Green Belt land to be transferred to private ownership and fenced off.
Nearly all of the 13.02 acre School Boundary Green Belt will be bulldozed, concreted, Tarmac’d and built over.
Increase of pupils from 550-1400, plus all the required staff … this will bring even more traffic, parking issues, disruption, noise and pollution to the local area.
Object now:
Objections can still be sent by email – up to determination date, see our page: https://www.green-belt-destruction-nw7.org.uk/how-to-object/
School Boundary Comparison map
Its references, methods and formula can be found HERE
Volunteers required to help publicise this application, you can get in touch via our email address, or contact link here: https://www.green-belt-destruction-nw7.org.uk/contact/
Update: 04/10/2017
Will the existing site be expanded beyond its 6 acres ? and any Green Belt taken ? the Mayor’s Office have not replied ‘yes’ or ‘no’, but said:
“Discussions are still at a high level design stage.We are nevertheless confident that we can reduce the proposed ‘take’ of Green Belt. We are also keen to work with the applicant and Barnet Council secure a coherent and defensible area of Green Belt for public use.”
Update: 28/09/2017
GLA, Barnet Council & applicant now working towards a new school on existing 6 acre site, with 3 fold increase in pupil numbers, but with no Green Belt taken.
We are informed the GLA are working with the applicant and Barnet Council on the development of alternative options for delivering the new school at the site in response to the Mayor’s decision.
At this stage it is not clear whether such a revised proposal would be submitted as amendments to the existing application, or as a new application altogether (this will be a matter for Barnet Council to consider). However, either scenario would require public consultation.
Whilst this is in progress, the Secretary of State will not ‘call in’ the application.
Update: 24/07/2017
A request by ‘interested parties’ has been received by the National Planning Case Work Unit calling for Secretary of State Sajid Javid to “call in” the Mayor of London’s decision.
As such, the Local Authority will not be making a decision until the response has been received.
We are informed it will take 1-2 weeks approximately for him to consider this request. If he decides to “call-in” the application (for reasons of national significance) – then we can expect a full public enquiry.
For more information:
http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/SN00930
Update: 17/07/2017
The Mayor of London has overuled Barnet Councils decision to grant an exception to the Green Belt policies – to build on Green Belt at Copthall London NW7, directing them to refuse the application.
This is on the grounds that the scheme represented inappropriate development on Green Belt land; the loss of open space; and the lack of sustainable transport measures to support the development.
The Mayor’s decision report can be found here:
https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/PAWS/media_id_351995/hasmonean_high_school_final_decision.pdf
and here
https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/PAWS/media_id_351996/hasmonean_high_school_report.pdf
GLA Application case ref 4155 page:
https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/planning/planning-applications-and-decisions/planning-application-search/hasmonean-high
CPRE London (Campaign for the Protection of Rural England) and The London Green Belt Council have made the following statements:
Alice Roberts of CPRE London said: “We are delighted the Mayor has stuck to his promise and declined to allow inappropriate development on London’s Green Belt, in line with his strong support for preserving London’s protected land. Green Belt is hugely important for halting sprawling development and the transport, pollution and other problems sprawl creates. And it encourages much-needed regeneration within London’s already built-up areas.”
Catherine Maguire, London Green Belt Campaigner added: ‘London’s Green Belt is vital for the health and well-being of Londoners. We hope that Local Authorities and developers have taken note of the strong signal sent by The Mayor’s decision that inappropriate development on London’s Green Belt will not be tolerated.’
https://londongreenbeltcouncil.org.uk/
https://www.cprelondon.org.uk/
The courses left open to the school are:
1) referral to the Secretary of State
2) an appeal
3) the applicant submits to the GLA, revisions to the application that would – propose to provide the new school within the curtilage of the existing Hasmonean girls school site.
Barnet Council Committee Meeting: Wed 22rd February 17
IMPORTANT – Barnet Council have decided to APPROVE destruction of the Green Belt.
The Council Planning Committee met recently (22nd February ’17) to decide the application, a 100 page planning officer’s report recommended refusal. Over 600 local residents the majority from NW7 had objected.
However, the Committee – of which 3 voting members including the Chairman, declared non-pecuniary interests in Hasmonean High School (an ex govenor, and two ex pupils).
Members voted 6 to 5 to go against the officer’s recommendation and vote in favour of ‘approving‘ the application, despite the report not finding any ‘very special circumstances’, and that it did not comply with Green Belt policies.
The application is now with the Mayor of London’s office (GLA) for further consideration.
If you feel the Council Committee vote to ‘approve’ did not represent you as a resident, voice your disapproval, email the Mayor’s office and/or write a letter. Please do not delay as time is very short.
Please write an objection letter to his office, details are on the ‘how to object page‘.
Recommendations:
Planning Officer’s report to Committee – recommendation for Refusal:
http://barnet.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=703&MId=8615
The Mayor’s Stage 1 reply with recommendations:
https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/planning/planning-applications-and-decisions/planning-application-search/hasmonean-high
We have a facebook page – please like and share:
https://www.facebook.com/greenbeltdestructionnw7/
Recent posts can be viewed on the comments page.
Our Twitter handle is: @GreenBelt_NW7
Please help – only 1000 consultation letters were sent out by Barnet Council to residents, please share a link to this website and its Facebook page (above).
Here is a link to our campaign leaflet – please distribute freely:
Green-belt-destruction-nw7.pdf
and here as JPEGS:
Green-belt-destruction-nw7-Page_1.jpg
Green-belt-destruction-nw7-Page_2.jpg
We need legal assistance to help with this campaign, if you can help please get in touch.
We also need leaflet distributors.
ORIGINAL APPLICATION SUBMITTED 2016
Since 1972 Hasmonean Girls School in Page Street NW7 has expanded, in an area protected by Green Belt policies.
This is the protected area:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/greenpolitics/planning/9708387/Interactive-map-Englands-green-belt.html#location=51.6037192%2C-0.23349899999993795
This is the Government Policy:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-planning-policy-framework/9-protecting-green-belt-land
Now an expansive Planning Application, with the intention to take away much more of our cherished Green Belt land, is with Barnet Council waiting public comments.
Hasmonean propose to acquire 15 additional acres from Barnet Council – (Copthall South Fields), and in return, a smaller area of land owned by the school in NW4 (the Boys School site in Holders Hill Rd, Hendon NW4 1NA) would be transferred to the Council.
- Imposing 15,300 sq. mt. building
- 21 acre Green Belt site
- Increase in traffic, noise and pollution to the area – 7 days a week
- Loss of ‘SINC’ Nature Conservation Site
- 1400 Pupils (506 at present)
Key:
Yellow Line = land to be acquired from Barnet Council (currently publicly owned and publicly accessible)
Red Line = security fenced area (1.8mt wire mesh welded fence proposed)
Full Planning Application documents can be found on the Barnet Website, to view, go here:
https://publicaccess.barnet.gov.uk/online-applications/search.do?action=simple&searchType=Application
– and search for: 16/6662/FUL
On the documents tab, scroll past all the comments at the top.
The pertinent documents are:
1) PLANNING_STATEMENT_FINAL_VERSION_OCTOBER_2016
2) AERIAL_VIEW_3D_VISUAL
3) MASTERPLAN
Stop this Planning Application
If approved, this wild open space will be bulldozed, built on, and 15 acres securely fenced off – irreplaceable green belt land with its public access denied to future generations.
Help protect the Green Belt
Object Now !
A reasoned and logical objection …
Several local organisations who work in the public interest have looked in depth at the application, their full and complete objection letters, stating all the reasoned arguments and Policies that protect green belt, can be found on the Barnet website – or on our website here:
Objection Letters:
Mill Hill Preservation Society:
MHPS Hasmonean Scheme Dec 2016
Mill Hill Neighbourhood Forum:
MHNF-Hasmonean school planning application response-081216
Mill Hill Residents Association:
MHRA – objection letter
Andrew Dismore AM
Labour London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden
Hasmonean planning objection
And nationally the Campaign for Protection of Rural England:
Letter of objection re Hasmonean School i
The Hasmoneon Planning application sites ‘very special circumstances’ for reasons to allow the development …
The Mill Hill Preservation Society however write:
“We have not yet been able to establish what ‘very special circumstances’ enable this applicant to claim parts of the Green Belt denied to other mere mortals. We very much hope that their reasoning is found wanting”
Car Use
The development of 167 parking spaces may well be used by Saracens supporters on match days (current practice of the school) encouraging car use – is this an end to which our Green Belt land should find itself ? With an additional 900 pupils during the week, use of school facilities for social and religious occasions at weekends and evenings (Synagogue, Sunday school, weddings etc) – will all add to the noise and disruption, local people will be forced to endure. Local people are ‘already’ fed up with the near continuous traffic congestion that exists today, and the area cannot cope with the increased activity proposed, that will extend beyond school hours, and possibly at weekends.
Community Benefit
Despite promises, there is a concern that public facilities are unlikely to be available.
Alternative Sites
Have alternative sites been fully explored ? Hasmonean school should be more innovative with its land use, a proposed development of what is believed to be 1300 pupils, the Saracens High School, will not be built on Green Belt Land – but in suburban Colindale – and on only 7.8 acres, 1/3 the amount of land the Hasmonean application wishes to acquire.
With so many large residential developments nearby now nearing completion, and possibly more yet to be built in the future, any cherished Green Belt land, more than ever must be protected from destruction.
Object now to this Planning Application:
http://www.green-belt-destruction-nw7.org.uk/how-to-object/