Property developer McCarthy and Stone is to appeal against a High Court ruling that so-called 'affordable housing' must be included in an East Finchley development.
The case had been brought by Barnet Council who described their victory as a vital blow against developers who did not want to include such low cost housing which is mainly rented out via housing associations. The council had refused planning permission for the 43-home development on the High Road because no affordable housing was included.
McCarthy and Stone appealed to the government and won their case after a planning inquiry. Barnet Council then went to the High Court and have been successful in having the government inspector's decision overturned.
Barnet Council said it was a landmark decision that will reverberate around the building industry.
But speaking for McCarthy and Stone, town planner Gary Day said he was disappointed and surprised by the decision. He said the company had recently won five similar cases on appeal and felt it was unworkable to have affordable and sheltered housing on the same site.
McCarthy and Stone will now take the matter to appeal.
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