It is unclear what, if anything, the council plans to do to support Barnet FC’s return to the borough following the rejection of its planning application in July reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

A road sign with with 'Underhill' on it in London Borough of Barnet — Barnet FC’s proposal to build a New Underhill stadium was rejected by councillors in July (Credit – David Floyd)

Barnet Council’s position on Barnet Football Club’s return to the borough appears vague following rejected proposals and confusion over alternative sites.

The League Two football club, currently based in neighbouring borough Harrow, submitted plans to build a stadium with a capacity for 7,000 spectators on Barnet Playing Fields, close to the site of their old home in Underhill.

However a strategic planning committee meeting on 14th July saw the plans rejected.

Although there was general support from the committee for the club’s return to Barnet, council officers expressed concern the development was inappropriate as it was within the Green Belt and would lead to a loss of public open space.

Divisions were highlighted by two campaign groups Bring Back Barnet and Save Barnet Playing Fields who sat on opposite sides of the debate.

However, confusion over the existence of alternative sites ensued as comments made at a full council meeting on 8th July were brought up.

When asked by Conservative councillor David Longstaff what the council’s “preferred site” would be, the council leader said three or four sites had been mentioned to the football club and the council was awaiting a response.

At the strategic planning meeting it was clear these sites were not publicly known.

The council then backtracked two days later, on the 16th, saying they had “never offered” the football club alternative sites but rather there had been an “initial discussion” with Barnet FC that explored “potential” locations “several years ago”.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted in August showed a meeting on 20th July 2022 took place, two months after Labour took control from Conservatives.

Although the meeting was “unminuted” the FOI showed that leader Barry Rawlings, the previous chief executive John Hooton, the executive director for communities, adults and health Dawn Wakeling, and the assistant director of greenspaces and leisure Cassie Bridge, were in attendance.

Responding to questions over why Cllr Rawlings viewed the football stadium issue as important enough to take the chief executive and other senior officers to meet the club, and why did he have any plans to meet with the club again following the failed application, a Barnet Labour group spokesperson said: “Barnet FC requested a meeting just after the local elections in May 2022 to discuss their wish to return to the borough.

“We have always said we would welcome the club’s return to Barnet if a suitable site could be found.”

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