A headteacher claims current development plans for the North Circular Road will lead to a “claustrophobic” and “gloomy” school environment.

Peter Travis, head of Broomfield School, condemned proposals from housing association Notting Hill Housing during a planning meeting in Trinity at Bowes Methodist Church in Palmers Green on Thursday evening.

Under latest plans, the housing association will build 1,300 new homes in the area stretching along the road from Southgate to Edmonton.

Three-storey houses will be built near the secondary school, which Mr Travis, and the school administration, are concerned will have a negative impact on the school.

The school head claimed the plans are a “very real concern” for the school in Wilmer Way, and changes should be made to address the issues.

He said: “These plans come right up to the perimeter of the school in three-storey mews houses. It may be that they are in different colours; what difference that will make I am not sure.”

He warned the school will become “claustrophobic” and “gloomy”, and said the plans will turn a “very light” area into something that is “not very nice at all”.

He said a red line strikes through the school plot in latest plans, which he is concerned could signify school land is threatened if proposals are followed in their present form. 

Despite talks with Notting Hill, he said: “We have voiced our concerns, but we don’t feel that they are being addressed.”

Enfield Borough Council approved the association’s initial plans during a full council meeting on Wednesday night, although changes can still be made.

Following discussions with the housing association, he said the school has been offered 'additional planting'.

However, he questioned whether foliage will be able to grow in dark conditions if houses are built backing onto the school’s property.

Ken Barnett, Notting Hill Housing project director, said he is “disappointed” talks with the school have not been resolved.

He said the association has carried out sunlight studies to ensure the impact will not be too great on the school, and the building work will leave some “gaps” to prevent the school from being too blocked in.

He described the red line in the plans as “a technical thing” and there could even be some land the housing association would like to give to the school once building work begins.