Housing development to be built on Cockfosters car park

The new homes will be built on the car park next to Cockfosters station

A new housing development by Cockfosters Tube station has been given the green light by the government.

The development will deliver 350 new homes, 40% of which will be affordable.

The homes will be built on the current car park next to the Piccadilly Line station, which has been met with some opposition from residents and commuters.

Planning documents say that car parking options, including 12 spaces for Blue Badge holders, will still be retained.

There will also be a new dedicated pick-up/drop-off area, comprised of seven short stay parking spaces.

There are currently 322 parking spaces at the station.

In response to the development's approval, a local resident wrote on X: "As someone that drives their kids to school not far from Cockfosters I am already impacted by the incredible amounts of traffic on Cockfosters Road.

"Taking away the parking at the station and putting a large numbers of flats on the site will be a nightmare".

Another said removing the car park "makes the station less accessible for people outside London and will potentially lead to more car journeys".

Cockfosters car park has 322 parking spaces

'High-quality homes'

Transport for London (TfL) first requested permission to sell the land in 2021but the then Secretary of State, Conservative Grant Shapps, refused the application.

Following the general election, Transport Secretary Louise Haigh, for Labour, granted it a 250-year lease for the land.

The plans for the 1.36 hectare development include enhancing access to local green spaces such as Trent Park and London Outer Orbital Path.

The designs also show there will be about one acre of publicly accessible open space for the local community, with the new trees and greenery replacing much of the current hard surface.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: "Building homes right next to public transport connections is a key part of our plans to deliver the high-quality homes Londoners need.

"This important project will deliver new commercial space, increase green space and, most importantly, it will provide the affordable housing that I have pledged to deliver for Londoners."

The development is being worked on by Places for London, TfL's property company.

It said the proposal at Cockfosters would contribute towards its target of starting construction of 20,000 homes, including 50% affordable housing, by 2031.

Other areas where housing is being built by Places for London include Kidbrooke, Wembley Park, Bollo Lane, Barkingside, Southall and Nine Elms.

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