"Micro-flats" planned for a building in Whetstone have been dropped.

Plans from Meadow Residential to convert Barnet House in High Road, Whetstone, into 250 studio and one-bedroom flats have been scrapped amidst opposition from MP for Chipping Barnet Theresa Villiers, among others, over the flats being "dog kennel" sized.

There were fears from opposition that the flats could be allowed to go ahead under permitted development rights, which allow for some developments which convert former office space into residential space to go ahead without the council's full support.

Ms Villiers met with developers who confirmed they would instead propose to turn Barnet House into a smaller number of larger flats and construct homes beside the building.

She said: "Trying to cram so many tiny flats into Barnet House would have many negative consequences for the people moving in there and for my constituents living in the neighbourhood.

"Whilst this is an important victory, the battle is not over yet."

Borehamwood Times: Theresa Villiers MP welcomed the plans being scrappedTheresa Villiers MP welcomed the plans being scrapped

Ms Villiers expressed concern over the new plans which, though they comply with London Plan recommendations on size, may lead to over-developing the area with a number of others in the pipeline already.

She added: "I will be listening carefully to the views of my constituents when the Meadowcroft planning application for Barnet House is published.

"I want to ensure their concerns about traffic and parking issues are fully considered in the planning process before the final decision is made on the future of Barnet House."

A spokesperson for Meadow Residential, who confirmed their meeting with Ms Villiers to update her on their plans for Barnet House, said: "Barnet is an area that has significant demand for housing and the redevelopment of the large Barnet House site will make a valuable contribution to addressing that local housing need.

"Meadow Residential’s planning application, which has been tailored following feedback from councillors and local stakeholders, will provide 229 new homes in the emerging Build to Rent sector which caters to key workers and younger professionals looking for good quality housing for a secure length of tenure with around-the-clock security and on-site management facilities.

"While Meadow Residential retains the ability to implement the scheme recently granted under the Permitted Development legislation, which allowed the conversion of office space into residential units, the intention is, in the near future, to submit the enhanced planning application to secure the redevelopment of the Barnet House site to provide housing the area needs."

The spokesperson added that the development will provide a mixture of policy compliant one, two and three bedroom apartments ranging from 538 square feet to 1206 square feet, along with amenity space, community and retail offerings.