Planning application · Barnet
24/5650/OUT.
Barnet Playing Fields Barnet Lane Barnet
Full / Other Planning at Barnet Playing Fields Barnet Lane Barnet, received 24 Dec 2024 — refused on 24 Jul 2025 by committee.
ApprovedRefusedOther
At a glance · this applicationBarnet profile →
Refused
Outcome
24 Jul 2025
30 wks
Decision time
22 wks over the 8-week target
—
Conditions
not captured
2553
Documents
200 linked
715
Objections
1222 in support
No
Appeal
none recorded
Record from the Barnet planning register as captured; documents link to the council's own files. Nearby applications are context, not part of this application.
Application
What is it?
Outline application for a new community football stadium (Use Class F1) with a spectator capacity of up to 7000 with associated floodlights, and with ancillary stadium-related facilities including food and beverage outlets, office and community space, club shop, and community diagnostic health centre (Use Class E), together with associated car and cycle parking and access, utilities, public realm, landscaping and other associated ancillary works and structures, with all matters reserved except for access (the application is accompanied by an Environmental Statement).
Reference
24/5650/OUT
Type
Outline Application
Applicant
Agent / consultant
Case officer
Ward
Council
Received
24 Dec 2024
Validated
22 Jan 2025
Target date
23 Apr 2025
Decision date
24 Jul 2025
Decision route
Planning committee
Status
Refused
Council register
Reference
24/5650/OUT
Type
Outline Application
Show all 15 rows
Applicant
Agent / consultant
Case officer
Ward
Council
Received
24 Dec 2024
Validated
22 Jan 2025
Target date
23 Apr 2025
Decision date
24 Jul 2025
Decision route
Planning committee
Status
Refused
Council register
Documents
What was filed?
Document
Published
View
2,553 documents on the council file; the first 200 are listed here.
Documents open on the Barnet portal (the portal needs its documents tab opened first — the link handles that). View the application page ↗
Decision
What happened?
Refused on 24 Jul 2025, determined by the planning committee — 30 weeks from submission (22 over the 8-week target).
Timeline
Date
Event
24 Dec 2024
Application received
22 Jan 2025
Application validated
23 Apr 2025
Statutory target date
24 Jul 2025
Committee decision: Refused
24 Dec 2024
Application received
22 Jan 2025
Application validated
23 Apr 2025
Statutory target date
Show all 4 rows
24 Jul 2025
Committee decision: Refused
Why it was refused
Reason
As stated on the decision notice
1
The proposed development, by virtue of its scale, layout, and use as a professional
football stadium, would result in the unacceptable loss of protected public open
space and would significantly undermine the delivery of strategic sports and
recreation infrastructure identified in the Barnet and King George V Playing Fields
Masterplan. The development fails to provide equivalent or better replacement
provision in terms of quality, quantity, or accessibility and does not demonstrate that
the benefits of the proposed alternative recreational use outweigh the loss of the
current use. As such, the proposal is contrary to the National Planning Policy
Framework (paragraphs 98 and 103-105), London Plan Policies GG3, G4, and S5,
and Policies BSS01, GSS13, CHW01, CHW02, and ECC05 of Barnets Local Plan
2025.
2
The proposed development, by reason of its location and its excessive footprint,
represents inappropriate development within the Green Belt which would cause
substantial harm to the fundamental intention and purposes of including land in the
Green Belt and the applicant has failed to demonstrate very special circumstances
necessary to warrant an exception to the National Planning Policy Framework
(NPPF) (paragraphs 187-195), Policy G2 of the London Plan 2021 and Policies
ECC05 and ECC06 of Barnet's Local Plan 2025.
3
Insufficient ecological information has been provided to determine the impacts of
the proposed development on protected species, including bats and otters. In
particular, the proposed stadium layout and lighting strategy have been developed
without confirming the presence or likely absence of key European Protected
Species, resulting in inadequate assessment of potential disturbance or harm. This
omission risks contravening the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations
2017 and is contrary to Policy G6 of the London Plan 2021 and Policies ECC02,
ECC05, ECC06 and ECC07 of Barnet's Local Plan 2025.
4
Insufficient information has been submitted to assess the potential impact of the
proposed development on heritage assets of archaeological interest. In the
absence of an archaeological desk-based assessment, the application fails to
demonstrate that the development would not result in harm to archaeological
remains. The proposal is therefore contrary to paragraph 207 of the National
Planning Policy Framework, Policy HC1 of the London Plan 2021, and Policy DM06
of Barnet's Local Plan 2025.
5
Insufficient information has been submitted to demonstrate that the proposed
development would not result in unacceptable levels of on-street parking stress in
the surrounding area. In particular, no parking stress surveys have been
undertaken, and there has been no meaningful engagement with the Council
regarding the implementation of a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) to mitigate the
impact of displaced spectator parking. In the absence of this information, there is a
clear risk that the development would cause harm to the operation of the local
transport and highways network, including impacts on residential amenity and
highway safety. The proposal is therefore contrary to Policy T6 of the London Plan
2021 and Policy TRC03 of Barnet's Local Plan 2025.
6
The proposed junction design, by virtue of the omission of a pedestrian refuge
island at the widened bell-mouth access, unresolved conflicts between pedestrian,
cyclist, and vehicle movements along the internal access road, would result in
unacceptable harm to highway and pedestrian safety. The development would
therefore be contrary to Policy T2 of the London Plan 2021 and Policy TRC01 of
Barnet's Local Plan 2025.
7
The application does not include a formal undertaking to secure the planning
obligations which are necessary for the development to be found acceptable. Page
144 of 147 The application is contrary to Policy DF1 of the London Plan 2021 and
Chapter 12 of the Barnet Local Plan 2025 and the Barnet Planning Obligations SPD
(adopted February 2025).
1
The proposed development, by virtue of its scale, layout, and use as a professional
football stadium, would result in the unacceptable loss of protected public open
space and would significantly undermine the delivery of strategic sports and
recreation infrastructure identified in the Barnet and King George V Playing Fields
Masterplan. The development fails to provide equivalent or better replacement
provision in terms of quality, quantity, or accessibility and does not demonstrate that
the benefits of the proposed alternative recreational use outweigh the loss of the
current use. As such, the proposal is contrary to the National Planning Policy
Framework (paragraphs 98 and 103-105), London Plan Policies GG3, G4, and S5,
and Policies BSS01, GSS13, CHW01, CHW02, and ECC05 of Barnets Local Plan
2025.
2
The proposed development, by reason of its location and its excessive footprint,
represents inappropriate development within the Green Belt which would cause
substantial harm to the fundamental intention and purposes of including land in the
Green Belt and the applicant has failed to demonstrate very special circumstances
necessary to warrant an exception to the National Planning Policy Framework
(NPPF) (paragraphs 187-195), Policy G2 of the London Plan 2021 and Policies
ECC05 and ECC06 of Barnet's Local Plan 2025.
3
Insufficient ecological information has been provided to determine the impacts of
the proposed development on protected species, including bats and otters. In
particular, the proposed stadium layout and lighting strategy have been developed
without confirming the presence or likely absence of key European Protected
Species, resulting in inadequate assessment of potential disturbance or harm. This
omission risks contravening the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations
2017 and is contrary to Policy G6 of the London Plan 2021 and Policies ECC02,
ECC05, ECC06 and ECC07 of Barnet's Local Plan 2025.
Show all 7 rows
4
Insufficient information has been submitted to assess the potential impact of the
proposed development on heritage assets of archaeological interest. In the
absence of an archaeological desk-based assessment, the application fails to
demonstrate that the development would not result in harm to archaeological
remains. The proposal is therefore contrary to paragraph 207 of the National
Planning Policy Framework, Policy HC1 of the London Plan 2021, and Policy DM06
of Barnet's Local Plan 2025.
5
Insufficient information has been submitted to demonstrate that the proposed
development would not result in unacceptable levels of on-street parking stress in
the surrounding area. In particular, no parking stress surveys have been
undertaken, and there has been no meaningful engagement with the Council
regarding the implementation of a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) to mitigate the
impact of displaced spectator parking. In the absence of this information, there is a
clear risk that the development would cause harm to the operation of the local
transport and highways network, including impacts on residential amenity and
highway safety. The proposal is therefore contrary to Policy T6 of the London Plan
2021 and Policy TRC03 of Barnet's Local Plan 2025.
6
The proposed junction design, by virtue of the omission of a pedestrian refuge
island at the widened bell-mouth access, unresolved conflicts between pedestrian,
cyclist, and vehicle movements along the internal access road, would result in
unacceptable harm to highway and pedestrian safety. The development would
therefore be contrary to Policy T2 of the London Plan 2021 and Policy TRC01 of
Barnet's Local Plan 2025.
7
The application does not include a formal undertaking to secure the planning
obligations which are necessary for the development to be found acceptable. Page
144 of 147 The application is contrary to Policy DF1 of the London Plan 2021 and
Chapter 12 of the Barnet Local Plan 2025 and the Barnet Planning Obligations SPD
(adopted February 2025).
Policies cited
ECC05GG3G4NPPF para 98G2ECC06NPPF para 187G6ECC02ECC07HC1DM06NPPFT6TRC03T2TRC01DF1Barnet Local Plan 12
Public response
Measure
Count
Objections
715
In support
1222
Total comments
1944
Objections
715
In support
1222
Total comments
1944
People
Who is involved?
Name
Role
Applicant — the party who applied, not necessarily the owner
Agent · consultant profile
Case officer (report to committee)
Determined at committee
Applicant — the party who applied, not necessarily the owner
Agent · consultant profile
Case officer (report to committee)
Show all 4 rows
Determined at committee
Place
What affects it?
Context around the site — not part of this application. Designations over the site: use the map's designations filter (conservation areas, listed buildings, Article 4, flood risk …). Decisions within 250 metres of the site are listed below — context, not this application.
Other applications within 250 metres (context — nearby, not this application)
No other geocoded decision is recorded within 250 metres.