Barnet Council loses £58.85m GLA grant for Dollis Valley affordable homes
Call-in sub-committee to review 208-home scheme on 4 August 2026 after funding withdrawal
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Quotes residents and councillors but lacks direct council response.
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Headline overstates delay impact without full context.
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Barnet Council has lost £58.85 million in funding from the Greater London Authority for affordable housing in Dollis Valley. The grant was withdrawn after the council failed to secure approval for the scheme by the 31 July 2026 deadline. The decision affects plans to build 208 new homes on the Brook Valley Gardens estate.
The GLA confirmed the funding was no longer available, stating there was insufficient certainty the grant conditions could be met. A spokesperson for the GLA said the authority had identified other schemes in London that could qualify for the funding instead, as reported by The Barnet Society.
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Cabinet decision called in for review
The council’s cabinet had approved the scheme on 21 July 2026, but Conservative councillors called in the decision for further scrutiny. The call-in means the project cannot proceed until a sub-committee reviews it on 4 August 2026. Demolition of vacant blocks, originally planned for September, has been delayed.
Council officials must now prepare fresh proposals for the estate. The delay is the latest setback in a long-running redevelopment process. Vacant flats and maisonettes on the site have remained unoccupied for three years, awaiting demolition.
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Residents challenge social housing plans
A group of residents at Brook Valley Gardens has opposed the redevelopment, arguing it breaches undertakings given when they purchased their homes. The estate currently has 400 homes, 60% of which are privately owned. The proposed scheme would increase the proportion of social rented homes to 60%, reversing the original ratio.
“This fresh postponement is only the latest setback in a long, drawn-out saga.”
Nick Jones, The Barnet Society
Residents claim they were assured the estate would remain 60% privately owned when they bought their properties. The Dollis Valley Partnership Board, which has consulted with residents, welcomed the loss of the GLA grant. A spokesperson for the board said the withdrawal strengthened their case for the council to restart discussions with residents.
Financial uncertainty over council’s next steps
The council had planned to work with developer Vistry to build the 208 affordable homes, managed by Barnet Homes. The £58.85 million grant was critical to the scheme’s viability. The council is now expected to contribute an additional £40 million to complete the estate, though details of this funding remain unclear.
If the council cannot renegotiate the deal with Vistry, it may have no option but to demolish the vacant blocks and clear the site. This could leave the land empty until market conditions improve or a private developer is found. The call-in sub-committee will consider these financial risks when it meets on 4 August 2026.
What happens next
The call-in sub-committee will review the cabinet’s decision on 4 August 2026. Residents and councillors will have the opportunity to present their views. The committee’s findings will determine whether the scheme proceeds, is revised, or is abandoned. The council has not yet indicated when a final decision will be made.
Questions this report answers
+Why did Barnet Council lose the £58.85 million grant?
The Greater London Authority withdrew the funding because Barnet Council failed to meet the 31 July 2026 deadline for approving the scheme. The GLA said there was insufficient certainty the grant conditions could be met, as reported by The Barnet Society.
+What happens at the call-in sub-committee on 4 August 2026?
The sub-committee will review the cabinet’s decision to proceed with the 208-home scheme. Residents and councillors can present their views. The committee’s findings will decide if the project proceeds, is revised, or abandoned.
+How many homes are affected by the redevelopment?
The scheme involves 208 new affordable homes on the Brook Valley Gardens estate, which currently has 400 homes. Residents object to the proposed increase in social rented homes, which would reverse the estate’s original 60% private ownership ratio.
+What are the council’s options if the Vistry deal fails?
If the council cannot renegotiate the deal with developer Vistry, it may have to demolish vacant blocks and clear the site. The land could remain empty until market conditions improve or a private developer is found, as reported by The Barnet Society.
Barnet Press News Desk
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