An MP has accused a developer of a “betrayal of trust” after its plans for a housing scheme more than doubled in size.

MP for Chipping Barnet Theresa Villiers said it was “hugely disappointing” that One Housing and partner Fairview planned to significantly increase the number of flats at the Victoria Quarter scheme in New Barnet.

In 2017, Barnet Council approved One Housing’s plans to build 305 homes at the former British Gas Works site in Albert Road.

But recently published revisions to the scheme have increased the number of homes to 652.

The developer says the revised scheme would provide more affordable homes, while the height of the tallest blocks would be reduced to 10 storeys – down from 14 storeys proposed during an earlier consultation.

But Ms Villiers said: “It’s hugely disappointing that One Housing and Fairview are trying to depart from the previous planning permission that reflected local concerns about the development.

“This was a carefully agreed compromise, and the decision by One Housing to rip that up is a betrayal of the trust I and others placed in them when we backed their previous application for planning permission.

“Their new proposals would involve a massive overdevelopment of the site, with a significant negative impact on the surrounding neighbourhood. Local roads and infrastructure would be placed under unacceptable pressure.”

The MP for Chipping Barnet also criticised a reduction in on-site parking spaces and a move to replace all houses in the previous plans with flats.

She added that she would be “campaigning strongly” against the revised plans and urged One Housing to stick with the original planning permission.

Fred Keegan, director of New Business and Partnerships at One Housing, defended the proposals.

Mr Keegan said: “We welcomed meeting Theresa Villiers MP to constructively discuss our joint plans. We will continue work with stakeholders in Barnet and be open and transparent with residents about our plans for the site.

“Our new scheme now delivers more affordable housing from 17 per cent to 35 per cent and is mostly London Affordable Rent, with rent set at levels comparable to social housing. We have sought to maintain a similar number of car parking spaces and have increased the number of family homes. The height of the scheme has also reduced from 14 to ten storeys.

“Since we secured planning consent for the brownfield site in 2017, we have invested in remedial works to decontaminate the former gas works site and to get it ready for residential development. The cost has turned out to be more expensive than previously anticipated. There is also increased pressure to deliver more housing across London from the Mayor’s housing targets.

“As a non-profit organisation, we are committed to delivering more affordable homes, working collaboratively with partners like Fairview New Homes, to increase the supply of housing for Londoners.”

The revised plans have yet to be considered by the council’s planning committee.