A garage has had its bid to expand turned down after neighbours claimed they would be forced to suffer more noise and air pollution.

OGS Mechanics car repair centre in Finchley made a bid to knock down five garages and build a single-storey extension to several other units at its site in Millers Yard.

The owner wanted to expand the floor space of the building by a fifth, claiming this would allow mechanics to carry out work on larger vehicles more effectively.

Planning officers at Barnet Council had recommended the application be approved, ruling that the increase in size was not significant and would not have a major impact on neighbours.

But properties in Claverley Grove back onto the garage, and at a meeting of Finchley and Golders Green Area Planning Committee on Monday (April 15), a resident spoke out against the plans.

She said: “The primary concern is an increase in intensity of use.

“Residents currently put up with hours of use being routinely ignored, excessive noise, vehicle alarms left on. Air quality is compromised.

“Will the proposal exacerbate the current problems? We think it will.”

The owner had pledged to carry out all work indoors to minimise disturbance – but Ms Jodi Newton, speaking on behalf of a group of local residents, said she could not see how that would be possible.

She added: “When we have complained, we have been treated with complete contempt by the owners.”

But planning consultant Lisa Cheung told the committee OGS Mechanics “prided themselves on being good, considerate neighbours”.

She said: “The proposed works would allow the applicant to rationalise the layout (of the site).

“The use of the replacement building would be similar to the building it replaces.

“The modest increase in size means the relationship between it and its neighbours will not change.”

Councillor John Marshall, Conservative member for Garden Suburb, said: “Can I first of all congratulate you on changing the meaning of the word ‘modest’.

“If I had a 20 per cent increase in salary, I would not have called that modest.

“You did say it would not lead to an intensification of use. I do not know how much it costs, but clearly (the owner) would not be spending money to have the same level of activity.”

Ms Cheung said: “It is natural for a business to evolve and grow. The building is at the end of its useful life and needs replacing. It is an opportunity to reposition and rationalise it.”

She insisted the plans were aimed at “making the site more usable in terms of moving vehicles around” rather than intensifying the use.

Ms Cheung also denied that the owner was aware of any complaints made by neighbours regarding the current use of the site.

Councillors unanimously refused the application, judging that it would result in an adverse impact on a neighbouring amenity.