Brent Terrace Park: Help Shape its Future
About the project
Brent Terrace Park forms part of the long-term plans for the Brent Cross Town development, and is identified as an enhanced open space that is accessible for the community. The park is planned on land adjacent to Brent Terrace and the railway line. It has previously been referred to as Linear Park.
The park will provide around 1.9 hectares of green space, equivalent to roughly three football pitches, stretching the length of Brent Terrace. You can see a sketch plan of the future area here.
To be delivered in several parts, the park will be integrated with Claremont Green which is currently expected to be completed by the end of next year and will connect with Claremont Park. Together, this will create a corridor of green space across Brent Cross Town, creating natural new places for residents to come together, play and relax and for wildlife to thrive.
The existing planning permission for Brent Cross Town includes the delivery of Brent Terrace Park, but many details about its future design, and how it might look and feel is yet to be decided. Barnet Council and Related Argent are now beginning early conversations with residents on Brent Terrace to help shape the future of the open space and understand what matters most to the community before more detailed plans are developed and formally consulted on.
Why are we engaging now?
This area is unique and has a long history, it contains natural habitats and wildlife, is very overgrown and has had a lot of rubbish dumped in the area over the years. Consideration is also being given to how the allotment-style gardens between the houses and Brent Terrace Park could relate to the future park.
We understand this area is also complex. Much of the former railway land, including the allotment gardens was acquired by Barnet Council from Network Rail as part of the Brent Cross West project. We know these areas are used in different ways by different residents. There are also several issues that residents have raised over the years including fly-tipping, overgrown paths and questions about future maintenance. This stage is about listening to residents and understanding local views, including what’s important to you and any concerns you may have.
What we want to understand:
• How people currently use the Brent Terrace allotment gardens
• What residents value about it
• Concerns about the future
• What should be protected or improved
• How the future park could relate to the neighbouring allotment gardens
• Ideas for long-term management and stewardship
What is happening now?
At this stage, there are no detailed design proposals and there is currently no confirmed construction timetable for Brent Terrace Park. Instead, we are starting by listening to local residents, finding out what people value about the area, what they might like to see change and what should be considered as designs are developed.
Over the coming weeks we will be speaking directly with households along Brent Terrace, organising small, guided visits to the site and exploring opportunities to improve the area in the short term. We will also soon be looking for volunteers from the local community who would like to continue engaging with us as the plans develop, helping to represent local views and provide feedback throughout the process. We’d also like to gather contact details for residents who would like to stay informed about the project and future engagement opportunities.
What happens next?
The feedback gathered during this listening phase will help to provide a design brief for Brent Terrace Park. Residents will have further opportunities to be involved as the project develops, including workshops, design discussions and future public consultation events before any planning application is submitted. Throughout the process we will share updates on what we have heard and explain how community feedback is helping to shape the project.
While we have these early conversations with residents, you may notice survey work taking place in and around the area. These surveys will help us understand the area’s landscape, ecology and existing conditions better, to help inform future design work alongside your feedback.
From Monday 7 September, we have also asked Barnet Street Scene teams to visit Brent Terrace to clear any fly-tipping and rubbish from the footpaths. Fly-tipping is an offence and can result in a fine so please keep the area clear of rubbish and dispose of it in the right way. Visit Barnet.gov.uk/recycling-and-waste and Barnet.gov.uk/reportit to find out more.
Have your say
You can speak to the project team when they visit your street, join one of our guided site visits, sign up for project updates, or express an interest in joining the Community Design Group by completing this form here or emailing transformingbx@barnet.gov.uk