CONCERNS have been raised that residents will not have time to object to a planning application to build a block of apartments in a “road of family homes” in Oakleigh Park.

The application has been submitted to demolish a detached house and replace it with the block of five appartments in Oakleigh Park North, a road of mainly detached homes.

Neighbours are concerned that they have only until August 25 to give their views on the proposal, in a period when many will be away on holiday.

Last time a similar application was submitted it generated around 80 objections from nearby residents who believed it was out of keeping with the area.

Michael Soliatis, who lives opposite the site, said: “Our concern is that this will set a precedent for people knocking down family homes and building flats.

“It will come down to whether or not the council buy the view that it is a road of family homes. If they don't we've got a problem.”

Mr Soliatis has written to Barnet Council to ask for a two week extension to the deadline for objections.

This is the third time the owner of the house has applied to build the block of flats, having been rejected twice already.

Last time the application was submitted over the Christmas holidays and many residents only found out about it days before the deadline, when the Chipping Barnet branch of the Liberal Democrats began a leafleting campaign.

The plans have been scaled back since the last application, with the number of storeys proposed reduced to two and an underground parking facility.

To view the planning application go to barnet.gov.uk