An independent living charity for disabled people has submitted a bid to demolish and expand part of its building.

The Jewish Blind and Physically Handicapped Society, which trades as Jewish Blind and Disabled (JBD), has applied to Barnet Council to demolish and redevelop part of the Fairacres building in East End Road, East Finchley.

The plan is to replace the central and south wings of the building with a building two or three storeys high.

If approved, this would have 36 new one-bedroom and four two-bed apartments, 11 more than the current site.

The front part of the old building would be retained and accommodate the four two-bed apartments, three of which will be redeveloped and one will remain the same.

The facility currently provides affordable independent living accommodation for adults aged 18 or over in the Jewish community who have a physical disability or impaired vision, helping them to maintain their independence.

Fairacres East Finchley

Fairacres East Finchley

The planning statement said 80 per cent of tenants across JBD’s developments receive housing benefit or Universal Credit. 

Under the reasons for the proposal, the applicant stated the building currently needed “significant modernisation works” to ensure it was “fit for purpose”.

Every apartment in the existing building is said to be “below the nationally described space standards” and fell short of the “fully accessible design requirements”. The “insufficient” heating system and insulation were also cited as reasons for the application.

The site sits in a predominantly residential area bordering Nazareth House, a residential care home for elderly tenants, and the regional offices for Larmenier Centre, a religious institution, to the west of the site.

JBD says it has consulted with Nazareth House on the proposals and has confirmed the care home has no objections. 

The planning statement states a distance of 21 metres will be maintained between the habitable windows on the new building and the windows on all the neighbouring properties in Pulham Avenue with none overlooking one another.

The car parking area will remain at the front of the site.