Not fair: Barnet Playing Fields under threat

Barnet Football Club’s plans to build a brand new stadium on local green space must be stopped say campaigners – object today

Barnet Playing Fields was set aside for the local community almost 100 years ago. Unusually for hilly High Barnet, the land is relatively flat and therefore incredibly valuable for playing sports.

But now the nine-acre site is coming under threat from Barnet FC, who want to build a new stadium on a park used by the whole community. Families having picnics, joggers, dog walkers, pupils from the nearby special needs school, cricketers, friends having a kickabout and grassroots football clubs doing training would all have nowhere to go.

Cherished parkland

“As park users, we were so shocked that this cherished parkland, which is open, green and, most importantly public will be taken over by a private company,” says Catherine Watling from the Save Barnet Playing Fields Campaign. “Instead of playing football, you’ll be charged to watch it.

“The park should be protected simply because it’s a park. But it is also designated Green Belt land that is home to so much wildlife – building on it would be a terrible abuse. These plans are a huge loss to the community.”

After their planning application was rejected 10 years ago, Barnet FC sold the land to the Department for Education, which built a school. And the club relocated to the purpose-built Hive in Edgware.

Community stadium

The club wants to return to the borough it is named after arguing fans won’t travel the six miles to Edgware. The application calls it a community stadium but the proposal does not offer the community any sports facilities to make up for what will be lost.

They are also claiming the site is grey belt land. If planning permission is granted, this would set a dangerous precedent for developing on playing fields and Green Belt land.

CPRE London is wholly opposed to the application and have submitted an objection. Almost 19,000 people signed a petition but these aren’t considered by councils. So Save Barnet Playing Fields is asking everyone to object to the council directly. The council’s online planning portal closes on 19 March, but you can still object by email after this date.

Object to the application, here

Find out more about the Save Barnet Playing Fields Campaign

Connect with them on Facebook, Instagram and X

Read more about CPRE London’s work to protect playing fields