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About the Project

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About the project

Learn everything you need to know about this exciting project, including facts about West Hendon Playing Fields, why it is being transformed, and what to expect from the project. You can also read about how we plan on engaging and sharing feedback with you.

Click on the links below to learn more about each topic.

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About West Hendon Playing Fields

West Hendon Playing Fields is a large public open space located in the London Borough of Barnet, west of Hendon. 

The Playing Fields contains a range of facilities including a tennis court, a basketball court, 16 football pitches and a children's playground. Set within a 62 hectare park setting, it is one of the largest recreation grounds in Barnet.

There is significant ecological value across the site and its surroundings. It is adjacent to the Welsh Harp Reservoir, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Local Nature Reserve and is designated as Metropolitan Open Land.

An aerial view of the northern entrance of West Hendon Playing Fields. The images shows the nursery building and the bowling green.
An aerial view of the south of West Hendon Playing Fields. The image shows an open green space, a large greenhouse and the Welsh Harp (Brent) reservoir.
A paved path cutting through a large open lawn, with a few trees.
A fenced tennis court in the middle of an open lawn area.
A view of the Welsh Harp (Brent reservoir) from a path in West Hendon Playing Fields.
A view of grass football pitches in the West Hendon Playing Fields.

Existing sports facilities

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Why is Barnet Council Investing in West Hendon Playing Fields?

Barnet Council's Corporate Plan sets out a new vision for Barnet - one that puts Caring for People, our Places and the Planet at the heart of everything the Council does. Barnet is a great place to live and work, and the plan has big ambitions to make it even better.

West Hendon Playing Fields is a vital part of Barnet's community, but it currently faces certain challenges that affect the way it is used. These challenges include tired built infrastructure and facilities that need improvement, limited access from adjacent communities, and an identity with potential to be reinforced as a space that serves its community.

Barnet Council has earmarked the site as a strategic location for a wide-ranging package of improvements, to transform the playing fields to an exemplary destination park for people and wildlife.

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Our Emerging Vision

Our emerging project vision is to breathe new life into the site, turning West Hendon Playing Fields into a thriving destination that puts People, Place, and the Planet at the core of improvement efforts. The park will be inclusive to all ages and abilities, enhance local wildlife and biodiversity, and offer ample opportunities for physical activity and recreation.

We came up with this vision based on Barnet Council's aspirations for West Hendon Playing Fields, past engagement exercises, and what we know about the area. We need your input to make sure the final vision captures what the community wants. Complete our survey to share how you experience the park, your feedback on the vision and your ideas for improvement. We will use your feedback to design a park that you will enjoy.

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Who will we be engaging?

We are committed to broad-reaching engagement with a diverse range of communities. We will be engaging with a wide range of groups, including: 

  • West Hendon Residents
  • Tenants of West Hendon Playing Fields
  • Conservation and Nature Groups
  • Accessibility-focused groups
  • Sports Groups
  • Schools in the area
  • Voluntary, Community and Faith (VCF) groups
  • Local councillors

We will also be consulting with the following organisations to ensure that our proposals meet statutory requirements. They include: 

  • Brent Council
  • Sport England
  • Greater London Authority
  • Canal and River Trust
  • Metropolitan Police 
  • Environment Agency
  • Natural England
  • Thames Water
  • UK Power Networks

How will we be engaging?

We are committed to engaging with residents and stakeholders in a way that is: 

  • Resident-first: We put residents first and emphasise the importance of the local community in shaping our proposals.
  • Existing Knowledge: We leverage existing knowledge bases and networks from voluntary organisations and other groups to ensure that all communities, especially under-represented groups, have an opportunity to participate. 
  • Transparent: We establish clear parameters of engagement from the beginning to promote honesty and transparency.
  • Innovative: We use best practices and innovative approaches, both online and in person, to engage with the community.
  • Engaging: We raise awareness of West Hendon Playing Fields and generate excitement for our proposals to ensure early activation.
  • Tailored: We tailor our engagement topics to the specific aspirations and needs of the community and stakeholders.
  • Ongoing: We engage and communicate throughout the project lifecycle to keep you updated and involved.

We believe that these principles will help us to build strong relationships with you and your community, ensuring all voices are heard as we develop the proposals for West Hendon Playing Fields. 

Our Promise of Feedback - Your voice matters!

We will listen to and record every comment you make. Our communication channels will be open, consistent, and transparent. We offer both offline and online communication channels to ensure accessibility for everyone. At the end of each key stage, we will tell you how we incorporated your input into the design of the Playing Fields. Where feedback has not been incorporated, we will clearly explain why.