A developer has drawn up new plans to build flats at a North Finchley retail store after its previous scheme was rejected by councillors.

Taylor Wimpey wants to knock down the former Homebase store in High Road and build 250 homes in blocks up to seven storeys high.

Barnet Council’s strategic planning committee refused the developer’s plans to build 307 flats in blocks up to nine storeys at the site in January last year.

The committee judged that it would be an overdevelopment and fail to respect the local context and pattern of development in the surrounding area, which is mainly made up of low-rise suburban homes.

A government planning inspector upheld the committee’s decision following an appeal by the developer.

Times Series: Former Homebase site in North Finchley. Credit: Google MapsFormer Homebase site in North Finchley. Credit: Google Maps

The scaled-down plans, submitted to the council in December, would see six blocks ranging between four and seven storeys built at the site. There would also be 63 car parking spaces and 457 cycle spaces, an energy centre and communal amenity space.

According to a planning document submitted by Taylor Wimpey, its proposals would create a “new, vibrant and sustainable residential scheme through a mix of private and affordable homes that will meet the identified housing needs of the borough”.

Details on the number of affordable homes have yet to be provided. A viability study submitted as part of the plans claims an affordable housing level as low as 18% would render the scheme financially unviable.

So far, almost 200 objections to the scheme have been published on the council’s planning portal, along with two letters in support. Concerns raised by opponents include the height of the blocks and their impact on neighbours, increased congestion and pollution in the area, and the strain on local services.

The latest plans can be viewed by visiting the council’s planning portal and entering reference 21/6788/FUL.