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London Borough of Barnet

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In brief

The London Borough of Barnet is a suburban London borough in North London. The borough was formed in 1965 from parts of the ceremonial counties of Middlesex and Hertfordshire. It forms part of Outer London and is the largest London borough by population with 384,774 inhabitants, also making it the 13th largest district in England. The borough covers an area of 86.74 square kilometres (33 sq mi), the fourth highest of the 32 London boroughs, and has a population density of 45.8 people per hectare, which ranks it 25th.

Barnet borders the Hertfordshire district of Hertsmere to the north and five other London boroughs: Camden and Haringey to the southeast, Enfield to the east, as well as Harrow and Brent to the west of the ancient Watling Street (now the A5 road). The borough’s major urban settlements are Hendon, Finchley, Golders Green, Friern Barnet, Chipping Barnet, Whetstone, and Edgware; there are also village settlements notably Totteridge and Arkley along with rural areas and countryside part of the Green Belt.

What to expect

Housing Delivery Test

No consequence within the 2021 Housing Delivery Test.

Up-To-Date Local Plan

The Local Plan is the development plan for the borough. It sets out how we will manage development and growth in Barnet. It has replaced the Unitary Development Plan except for the 13 policies for Brent Cross and Cricklewood. It is a collection of documents that work alongside national policy and the Mayor’s London Plan to inform planning decisions.

The Local Plan includes Development Plan Documents (DPDs) and Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs).

Development plan documents (DPDs)


The Core Strategy DPD sets out our vision, objectives and strategic policies
The Development Management Policies DPD sets out the framework for making decisions
The Mill Hill East Area Action Plan
The Colindale Area Action Plan
The North London Waste Plan

Customer Service

Customer service at Barnet is inconsistent with officers either responsive or not at all.

Decision Making Behaviour

Decision making behaviour is also inconsistent and in line or not at all with established practice.

Article 4 Directions

Conversion of dwelling houses to Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO).

Employment Uses to Residential

Nitrate Effected Areas

None at present

Last Decision’s

  • 196 High Street Barnet – Change of use from Use Class E to a mixed use including up to two flats
  • 135 Station Road, London, N3 2SP – Conversion of existing HMO and flat into 3no. self contained dwellings

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