Councillors have opposed plans to build hundreds of flats on the site of a former retail park in Barnet.

Developer Meadow Partners wants to build 844 homes in blocks up to 15 storeys high on Pentavia Retail Park in Mill Hill.

The retail park, which is now disused, is bordered by the M1 and the A41 Watford Way.

Barnet Council’s planning committee refused permission for a similar development in July last year over inadequate levels of affordable housing.

The council received more than 680 objections to the plans and just four letters of support for the scheme.

But the plans were referred to the Mayor of London due to the application’s “strategic importance” and have now been revised by the developer.

The number of homes on the proposed development has gone up by 120, with the proportion of affordable units rising from 35 per cent to 41 per cent – in line with the borough’s target.

But there has also been a reduction in the number of car parking spaces from 545 to 397, which works out as fewer than 0.5 spaces per home.

The number of cycle spaces has been increased by 421, to a total of 1,603.

Meadow Residential claims the development will create “a thriving, sustainable neighbourhood with green, publicly accessible parks and local amenities – a place for people to live, work and enjoy”.

But councillors voted unanimously to oppose the plans at a meeting of the planning committee on Monday (April 8).

Cllr Shimon Ryde, Conservative member for Childs Hill, said: “Car parking has been reduced, but cycling provision has been increased on a site that is quite isolated and near major roads.

“Cyclists will go out onto a major arterial road, which is absolutely absurd.

“The mayor is suggesting giving up cars to go on a main road in an area of high pollution.”

The council will object to the plans on the grounds of inadequate parking provision and a ruling that the size and scale of the buildings represents an overdevelopment of the site.

A public consultation on the revised plans will run until May 6.

The Mayor of London will then consider the proposals at a public hearing at City Hall.

More information is available here.