New developments could reshape High Barnet: a chance for residents to have a say before planners take critical decisions

High Barnet is at a crossroads over future developments. Members of the Barnet Society are about to get an opportunity to debate key issues and hear the views of the Chipping Barnet MP Dan Tomlinson.

There are three main areas of uncertainty: the construction of eight-storey blocks of flats on the car park and container yard at the High Barnet tube station; an application by Barnet Football Club to build a new stadium at Underhill; and the continuing uncertainty about the future of The Spires shopping centre and its possible redevelopment.

Mr Tomlinson will take questions after members have had an opportunity to air their views and had a chance to vote on how they would like these schemes to proceed and whether they should be approved.

This discussion, followed by the Q&A, is a members’ only event on Thursday evening 27 February, so if you’d like to come along, join the Society at https://www.barnetsociety.org.uk/membership You will be given details of the meeting.

Each of the main three items will be introduced and debated separately to identify key questions to put to Mr Tomlinson (above).

Nick Saul will open the first short debate by outlining the proposal by Transport for London — through its property subsidiary Places for London and Barratt Homes — to build blocks of flats to provide 300 homes at High Barnet tube station.

This would result in the loss of all 160 car park spaces.

Building flats of up to eight storeys on the narrow strip of land between the tube line and Barnet Hill has raised numerous issues about the safety of the site and future access to the station.

In his session, Simon Kaufman will explore the options that face the town in view of continuing uncertainty over the future of The Spires shopping centre.

Almost two years have elapsed without any further word on proposals to redevelop the centre by creating a new central walkway with six blocks of flats to provide 250 new homes.

BYM Capital, owners of The Spires, became insolvent in late 2023 and administrators are now in charge of the company.

Mr Kaufman is keen to see whether there is support for fresh initiatives towards tackling the need to regenerate both the shopping centre and surrounding area and to explore the future role of Barnet Council.

Frances Wilson will lead the debate over the controversial application by Barnet Football Club to seek permission to construct a new stadium on playing fields at Underhill.

Last December the club chairman Tony Kleanthous announced that he has dropped a plan to site the stadium on the school playing field of the Ark Pioneer Academy and has opted instead for a site further along Barnet Lane.

Although the proposal has been greeted with enthusiasm by Barnet FC supporters, opinion is deeply divided with many in the town opposing the construction of a new stadium on open playing fields, unconvinced about the economic and social benefits to the community.