A housing scheme that will see flats built on the site of a former petrol station has been given the green light by councillors.

Developer Caxton Road LLP has won permission for 75 flats in a block ranging from four to nine storeys at the site in Mayes Road, Wood Green.

Affordable homes will make up 39.4 per cent of the development by habitable room, with three-fifths at London Affordable Rent levels and the rest at intermediate rents.

It is a “car-free” scheme, meaning the only parking provision will be three spaces for disabled blue badge holders close to the site. There will be 138 cycle parking spaces.

At a meeting of the planning sub-committee on Thursday (July 9), opponents raised concerns over what they claimed would be “segregation” of affordable housing tenants from private residents.

Paul Burnham, of campaign group Haringey Defend Council Housing, claimed it was “one of the most segregated developments we have ever seen in Haringey”, with “four segregated entry doors at ground floor level”.

MP for Hornsey and Wood Green Catherine West had submitted a written objection outlining similar concerns, saying affordable housing should be “integrated” rather than segregated from private accommodation “through separate entrances, blocks and/or outdoor play space”.

But an update to the scheme provided in advance of the meeting featured several changes to the plans, including an amendment “to direct all residents to access the site by the central lobby”, where there will be lifts serving both parts of the building.

It adds: “The amended plans show that residents from either core can access all sides of the deck and can access all of the proposed roof terraces.”

Technical problems with the livestream of the meeting meant an objection by Natasha Sivanandan could not be heard by the public.

When the livestream resumed, under questioning from councillors, Ms Sivanandan said none of the affordable homes would be available to wheelchair users.

“That’s a classic form of segregation that is unlawful under the law of this country, and I am amazed that any council in the 21st Century can allow that sort of thing,” she said.

Luke Cadman, associate planning director at Aitch Group, defended the proposals on behalf of the applicant.

Mr Cadman said: “We are providing 75 much-needed new homes, we are delivering retail and employment spaces. It will generate up to 79 new jobs.

“We are providing 11 three-bedroom family homes, all on affordable rented tenures, allowing families to stay in the borough.

Mr Cadman said the affordable homes would be in a separate section of the building because registered housing providers prefer that arrangement “to allow the more effective management and the ability to control service charge, rent levels for their residents”.

In response to the segregation claims, Mr Cadman added: “I can categorically confirm there is not any segregation or ‘poor doors’ proposed.

“All residents will arrive and leave through the same entrance, where all the post boxes are located, they walk across a communal podium play area to get to their homes, the deck access areas are open and all roof-level play areas are accessible by residents.”

The development was approved after six councillors voted in favour and three against.