Barnet Council rejects Khan’s Green Belt plans for seven stations
Borough says mayor lacks authority to alter protected land near transport hubs in draft London Plan
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Barnet Council has told the mayor of London that he has no authority to redraw the borough’s Green Belt, after Sadiq Khan’s draft London Plan identified seven train stations in Barnet as potential sites for development. The council said it had not held direct discussions with City Hall about the proposals, which could allow residential-led schemes on protected land near transport hubs.
The draft London Plan, published earlier this month, sets out strategic planning goals for the capital. It includes criteria for releasing Green Belt land if developments meet "sustainable location tests", such as proximity to eligible bus routes or train stations. Barnet’s Finchley Central, High Barnet, Mill Hill East, Totteridge and Whetstone, West Finchley, Woodside Park, and Mill Hill Broadway stations are all listed as well-connected locations.
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Council insists mayor lacks remit
A Barnet Council spokesperson said the mayor "does not have the remit to make any direct Green Belt boundary changes". The council adopted its own local plan in March 2025, which sets out development targets and rules for the borough. Under planning rules, each London borough must align its local plan with the mayor’s London Plan, which provides overarching policies for the capital.
The spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the council had not spoken directly with the mayor’s office or the London Plan team about the draft proposals. Council officers have since contacted the London Plan team to seek further clarification, the spokesperson added.
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The council is very clear that the mayor does not have the remit to make any direct Green Belt boundary changes.
Barnet Council spokesperson
Green Belt release criteria
The draft London Plan states that residential-led schemes on Green Belt land could be acceptable if most new homes are within 400 metres of an eligible bus route or 1.2 kilometres of a designated train station. The plan also identifies land near the A1 at Borehamwood East as a potential site for industrial-led development on Green Belt land.
City Hall says the London Plan ensures the capital’s planning system is "joined up" and reflects a sustainable development strategy. The mayor’s office has opened a public consultation on the draft plan, which runs until 30 September 2026. Barnet Council said it would assess the proposals before submitting a formal response.
What happens next
Barnet Council will review the draft London Plan before submitting its response to the public consultation. The mayor’s office has not indicated when a final version of the plan will be published. If approved, the London Plan will set the framework for boroughs to follow when drafting their own local development strategies.
Questions this report answers
+What does Barnet Council say about Sadiq Khan’s Green Belt plans?
Barnet Council insists the mayor lacks the authority to alter its Green Belt boundaries under the draft London Plan. The council argues that only boroughs themselves can set local Green Belt protections. This stance directly challenges the mayor’s proposals to identify seven stations for potential residential development on protected land.
+Which Barnet stations are named in the mayor’s draft plan?
The draft London Plan lists seven Barnet stations: Finchley Central, High Barnet, Mill Hill East, Totteridge and Whetstone, West Finchley, Woodside Park, and Mill Hill Broadway. These are described as well-connected transport hubs where residential-led development on Green Belt land could be considered under specific criteria.
+How does the draft London Plan propose Green Belt land could be used?
The draft plan allows residential-led schemes on Green Belt land if homes are within 400 metres of an eligible bus route or 1.2 kilometres of a designated train station. It also identifies industrial-led development near the A1 at Borehamwood East as a potential option under the same sustainable location tests.
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