The Barnet Council Strategic Planning Committee met on 14 July 2025, and made decisions on two key planning applications. The committee refused an application for a new football stadium at Barnet Playing Fields, and approved the redevelopment of Bunns Lane Car Park in Mill Hill.

Barnet Playing Fields, Barnet Lane - 24/5650/OUT (Underhill)

Barnet Football Club's outline application to build a 7,000-seat stadium on Barnet Playing Fields was refused due to concerns about the green belt, loss of open space, and ecological impact.

The planning officer presented the application, highlighting that the proposal was for outline planning approval with all matters reserved except for access. They noted the application was supported by an environmental impact assessment¹ and was therefore an EIA development. The officer stated that while they supported the club's ambition to return to Barnet, the Barnet Playing Fields site was within the Metropolitan Green Belt and public open space, and therefore would not be supported.

Objectors and supporters were then invited to speak.

Councillor Paul Edwards spoke in objection, stating that building on land designated as Metropolitan Green Belt would have a serious, deleterious impact on the stretch of the Green Belt and, in consequence, the physical and mental wellbeing of citizens. He said:

I welcome Barnier Football Club's desire to return to Barnier, but it needs to be realistic and pragmatic. I believe a solution is possible if Barnier Football Club sits down with the key players to find a way forward. However, I ask members of the committee not to support this planning application on this occasion.

Councillor David Longstaff also spoke in objection, concentrating on noise. He said that noise was relevant when the application creates new noise and should ensure that the noise made is appropriate for the location. He referred to letters from the Jesus Hospital Charity regarding Ravenscroft Cottages, and from the head teacher of Northway Primary School, which is a specialist school for physical activity, relaxation and sensory activities for children with diverse and complex needs.

Councillor Tim Roberts spoke in support of the application, saying that the overwhelming response he had heard from Underhill residents had been positive. He said that the club was synonymous with Underhill and High Barnet, and that a return to Underhill would boost the local economy by nearly £3 million a year annually. He added that the new stadium would take less than 22% of the current playing fields in that area, amounting to only 1% of all greenbelt in the whole of Barnet.

Councillor Zahra Begg, Cabinet Member for Equalities, Poverty Reduction and the Voluntary & Community Sector, spoke in objection, saying that the loss of the playing fields would be permanent, and the so-called benefits simply did not outweigh that harm.

Anne Clarke, Assembly Member for the Barnet and Camden Constituency, spoke in objection, saying that the land is greenbelt, and as such enjoys protection. She added that the leader of the council has made it clear that there are no plans to sell or to let the land.

Robert Verrill, chair of Save Barnett Playing Fields, spoke in objection, saying that the vast majority of local people strongly oppose this inappropriate and harmful development.

Iain Botterill, speaking on behalf of the Bring Barnet Back campaign, spoke in support of the application, asking if Underhill was better off with the field as it is, or with a fully funded community stadium, complete with space for NHS facilities, a food hub, community groups like the Rainbow Centre, and a destination sports centre that this very council called for.

Sean McGrath, agent for the planning application, spoke in support of the application, saying that the club needs to return home to Barnet, and that this is the only realistic site. He said that it was grey belt land, not green belt, and that sports-related development is acceptable where the benefits clearly outweigh the loss of open space, which they do in this case.

Following the presentations, the committee debated the application.

Councillor Shuey Gordon proposed that the item be deferred, to allow colleagues the opportunity to properly consider all the relevant factors, and to get clarity on whether there are any alternative sites. This proposal was not supported.

The committee then voted on the officer's recommendation to refuse the application. Six councillors voted in favour of refusal, none against, and there were three abstentions.

The application was therefore refused.

Reasons for Refusal

The committee agreed with the planning officer's recommendation to refuse the application for the following reasons:

1. Inappropriate development within the green belt.
2. Loss of public open space and loss of playing fields.
3. Insufficient information to safeguard European protected species within Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC).
4. Insufficient information to demonstrate proposals would be acceptable on Archaeology grounds.
5. Inadequate Assessment of On-Street Parking Impacts.
6. Unacceptable Site Access and Junction Design.
7. Lack of Section 106 Agreement.

Bunns Lane Car Park, Mill Hill Broadway Station Road NW7 2JU - 25/0428/FUL (Edgware)

The committee approved the redevelopment of Bunns Lane Car Park for the erection of buildings up to 4-6 storeys in height, comprising up to 130 residential units, despite concerns about the loss of parking spaces and the number of flats in the area.

The planning officer presented the report, noting that the development site is allocated as site number 22 under Annex 1 schedule of site proposals appended to the council's local plan. The proposal includes 50% affordable housing, and enhancements to the western entrance of Mill Hill Broadway station.

Richard Meyer, from Stories, spoke in support of the application, saying that the proposals offer an opportunity to deliver 50% affordable, high-quality rental homes for people to live in, on a brownfield site that's allocated for this use in the local plan, and it's for Barnet Council.

During the debate, Councillor Val Duschinsky raised concerns about the loss of parking spaces, the number of flats in the area, and the need for step-free access at Mill Hill Broadway station.

The committee then voted on the officer's recommendation to approve the application. Five councillors voted in favour of approval, and three against.

The application was therefore approved.

Conditions

The committee delegated authority to the Service Director – Planning and Building Control to make any minor alterations, additions or deletions to the recommended conditions/obligations as set out in the report and addendum, provided this authority shall be exercised after consultation with the Chair of the Committee.

The meeting was then closed.