Andrew Dismore

Members of the London Assembly Regeneration Committee visited the Mill Hill East to learn about the Mayor- designated ‘Intensification Area’ at the invitation of local London Assembly member Andrew Dismore AM , who is a member of the Committee. The Committee is conducting an inquiry into the impact of these schemes on the capital.

Mr Dismore was accompanied on the site visit to Milbrook Park by Navin Shah AM and Gareth Bacon AM, with City hall officers. They met representatives of the developers, council officers and local residents groups to talk about the impact of this development in Mill Hill East . ( photo attached below)

Labour London Assembly member for Barnet and Camden Andrew Dismore, who organised the visit said:

‘Residents have expressed concerns about the extent and quality of development in Mill Hill relating to the quality of the build, lack of community and recreational facilities , lack of secondary school provision, poor transport links and lack of local employment opportunities.
After the visit Mr Dismore said:
‘Whilst we clearly need more homes, it is important that we have sustainble mixed communities that work with the pre-existing settled community in Mill Hill. The Mill Hill East Intensification Area has not been thought through. The further development schemes expected for the Medical Research Centre and Pentavia retail park will themselves add thousands of extra people and homes in an area already lacking infrastructure. The transport links to this site are poor. There is a one track line from Mill Hill East tube station, which runs every 15 minutes. Overcrowded at rush hour and lacking step free access as it is, how will it cope when there are thousands more commuters?
In their drive to encourage more house building homes, Barnet Council has neglected to ensure there are enough sustainable local jobs for the people who move in. Without these, we add to the pressures on public transport as more are forced to commute. The loss of the Medical Research Centre, Pentavia retail park and the Council depot will see jobs go, and with only a small area for retail much later in the development I don’t think enough business space has been created.
There are complaints about the poor quality of build, the first phase does not even have access to broadband internet, and although there is a brand new through road, it has no cycle lanes or pedestrian crossings.’
Richard Logue, Chair of the Mill Hill Residents Association said:
‘We need extra GP services and a new secondary school. The borough already has a secondary school place shortage, and I am surprised that building a new secondary school here has not been part of the scheme. We can now only get one through the free school programme, which may take years.’
Mr Dismore was joined from the committee by Navin Shah AM and Gareth Bacon AM.