Barnet FC plans to build stadium in home borough

The chairman of a north London football club said he wanted to bring the club back to its home borough as he announced plans for a new stadium.

Anthony Kleanthous said he wanted to end Barnet FC's "10-year exile in Harrow" and build the ground in Barnet.

The club has been based at The Hive in Edgware since 2013. It was at Underhill Stadium in Barnet from 1907 to 2013.

Aydogan Mehmet, of BeesPod, the Barnet FC podcast, told BBC London the news was "what all the fans wanted".

Mr Kleanthous said the new stadium would have a capacity of between 6,000 and 8,000 people.

He said the "best site" was off Barnet Lane at "South Underhill" - metres from the club's original home, which was demolished and replaced by Ark Pioneer Academy secondary school.

Mr Kleanthous said in a statement: "I always felt that if it were possible, then Barnet FC should return to the home from where it took its identity."

He said he hoped to receive "the full support of Barnet FC fans, local residents and the council".

Mr Mehmet said: "I've got a permanent smile on my face.

"The fact this is happening is amazing. It's taken everyone by shock."

Mr Mehmet said when the club moved to The Hive, which was previously its training ground, it "caused a problem with support" and fan attendance at games dropped.

"Not many people came to games," he said. "At points it's been really desperate and it felt the club was dying a death.

"This is like a defibrillator, this news. All the people who stopped coming will come back."

However, Robin Bishop, of the Barnet Society, said while many people would like to see "the Bees return to their home turf", more information was needed about the project.

"Since Barnet FC left the site, public concern about climate change and loss of Green Belt and biodiversity has greatly increased," he said.

"Its return would affect the new Ark Pioneer Academy, the children's playground, the Rainbow Community Centre and local traffic.

"We would welcome joined-up thinking about these and other local issues."

Barnet FC said its proposals also included two multi-use games areas, a recreational zone for pupils, a formal pitch for training and playing purposes on Barnet Playing Fields, and a school drop-off zone.

Mr Kleanthous said the club had hired a consultancy firm to begin the pre-application process and it would be engaging with Barnet Council.

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