Residents bid to buy back derelict High Barnet youth club
Quinta Village Green Residents’ Association submits offer for former youth club, valued at £300,000 by Barnet Council.
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The Quinta Village Green Residents’ Association has submitted a bid to Barnet Council for the former Quinta Youth Club building in Mays Lane, High Barnet. The council has placed a £300,000 valuation on the property, which has been derelict for the past 20 years. The residents' association hopes to see the building returned to community use, having prepared a comprehensive offer with financial backing.
Community-led proposal for youth hub
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Association chair Gina Theodorou stated that plans include a combined community hub, cafe, and youth centre. This proposal follows a six-month pause that allowed community groups to prepare bids after the clubhouse was designated an asset of community value. The sale process is now open to public bids, and council officials have reportedly been surprised by the number of commercial and community offers, with as many as 40 expressions of interest received.
Ms Theodorou acknowledged that the association is competing with other offers but expressed hope that the council will consider the long-term social and community benefits of their proposal alongside the financial offer. Residents have conducted extensive work to demonstrate the potential of a community hub. A consultation organised by the association garnered over 440 responses, with 97 per cent favouring a return to community use and 78 per cent identifying a need for youth provision in the area.
Consultations with pupils from Totteridge Academy and Underhill School highlighted a desire for welcoming and affordable spaces for young people to socialise and participate in organised activities. The derelict building is situated next to Quinta Village Green, a protected open space, and a new hub could integrate with outdoor recreational facilities.
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Restoring a community legacy
The Quinta Club was originally conceived in the 1960s by the local community to address a lack of opportunities for young people in Underhill. The foundation stone was laid in July 1965, and the club was constructed with the assistance of local volunteers and tradespeople. Ms Theodorou expressed a desire to revive this community spirit, creating a safe space for young people to develop interests and a welcoming environment for all generations. Barnet's current youth strategy analysis reportedly reaches similar conclusions regarding the needs of this part of the borough, prompting hopes that the club's original purpose can be restored after two decades of closure and decay.
Questions this report answers
+What is the current status of the former Quinta Youth Club building?
The former Quinta Youth Club building in High Barnet has been derelict for 20 years. Barnet Council has placed a £300,000 valuation on the property, and it is now subject to a bidding process.
+Who is bidding to buy the former youth club?
The Quinta Village Green Residents’ Association has submitted a bid for the building. They aim to restore it for community use, including a youth centre and cafe. Barnet Council has received numerous other bids, both commercial and community-led.
+What do local residents want to happen with the building?
A consultation by the residents' association received over 440 responses, with 97% in favour of the building being returned to community use. A significant majority also identified a need for provision for young people in the area.
Barnet Press News Desk
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