National League outfit Barnet have unveiled plans for a new stadium that will see them playing football again in their local borough.
The Bees have been playing in nearby Harrow at The Hive since 2013 after lease disputes with the council saw them vacate Underhill Stadium – which had been their home for more than a century.
However, on Monday afternoon Barnet chairman Anthony Kleanthous revealed that they are looking to return Barnet with stadium designs for a new 8,000-capacity ground.
In a statement on Monday, Kleanthous declared that he hopes to return the club back ‘where it belongs’.
Barnet have unveiled plans for a new 8,000 capacity stadium back in their local borough
The Bees revealed designs on Monday afternoon with the club keen to return back home
Barnet chairman Anthony Kleanthous says it’s time for the club to return to ‘where it belongs’
‘I am delighted to announce our exciting plans to end our 10-year exile in Harrow and bring Barnet FC back to Barnet,’ he wrote.
‘Our initial three-year tenure at The Hive was extended indefinitely by Harrow Council but I always felt that if it were possible, then Barnet FC should return to the home from where it took its identity.
‘During the long months of Covid, I busied myself with trying to find a way to bring the Club back home and met with Barnet Council to ask for their support in locating a suitable site on which I could build a new stadium. I undertook to fund the full cost of construction so that we could progress without any funding delays.
‘After months of searching, it became clear that the best site was the one we originally identified at South Underhill and so we asked our architect to revisit these proposals. This new scheme is a redesigned slimmed down version of our original planning application at the South Underhill site and accounts for the existing layouts and usages in place with the new school and their needs at the forefront of the project.
‘Along with the smaller 6,000 – 8,000 capacity stadium, there are two Multi Use Games Areas, a circulation and recreational zone for pupils, a formal pitch for training and playing purposes on Barnet Playing Fields, and a school drop-off zone for pupils which will help alleviate the morning rush hour traffic problems in the area.
‘We have instructed WSP Planning Consultancy to commence the pre-application process. Sean McGrath from WSP will be heading the project and engaging directly with Barnet Council and their Planning Officers in the pre-planning process in order to finalise an application. We will be providing a progress update at the end of the month.
The National League side currently play in nearby Harrow at The Hive – having done since 2013
‘We hope that we will receive the full support of Barnet FC fans, local residents and the Council so that we can bring our incredible Club back to where it belongs.’
If permission is granted, Kleanthous will hope it will bring in a new era for the north-London outfit who currently sit third in the National League with a strong shot at promotion to League Two this season.
