Subject
Barnet Council
Barnet Press has published 94 stories involving Barnet Council, from August 2026 to September 2026. Each one is scored for how well the original reporting stood up, and lists the reports it was written from.
Council & Politics · HendonHendon shop owner fined for selling knife to teenager
Barnet Council prosecuted Akif Durmaz, owner of Hendon International Food, for selling a knife set to a teenager. He pleaded guilty and was fined £3,080 with £1,500 costs. The prosecution followed an undercover test purchase operation.
Hendon3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 71 · Hype 15
Property & Planning · EdgwareEdgware Railway Hotel development plans face local objections
Plans to redevelop the historic Railway Hotel in Edgware as part of a 523-home residential scheme are open for public consultation. The proposal by Edgware Limited has drawn significant local opposition, with 36 out of 40 comments on Barnet Council's planning portal objecting.
Edgware3 min readTrust 50 · Craft 61 · Hype 20
Local News · Burnt OakBurnt Oak Leisure Centre installs 220 solar panels
Burnt Oak Leisure Centre has installed 220 solar panels as part of a community-led project. The initiative is projected to save £36,000 in energy costs and reduce carbon emissions by 241 tonnes over its lifespan.
Burnt Oak3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 70 · Hype 20
Council & Politics · BarnetBarnet Council records 11 complaints on cosmetic procedures
Barnet Council received 11 complaints regarding non-surgical cosmetic procedures between January 2021 and May 2026, placing it third among London boroughs. These complaints covered issues from alleged injury to hospital treatment, highlighting a need for clearer industry regulation.
Barnet3 min readTrust 74 · Craft 64 · Hype 48
Council & Politics · BarnetBarnet Council Faces Social Care and Housing Pressures
Barnet Council is experiencing significant pressure on its social care and social housing services, exacerbated by a rise in mental health referrals. The government has announced plans for a National Care Service and increased investment in housing and mental health facilities.
Barnet3 min readTrust 30 · Craft 57 · Hype 20
Council & Politics · Burnt OakBarnet Council starts Burnt Oak flood defence work
Barnet Council has begun construction on a flood alleviation scheme in Burnt Oak, focusing on Lyndhurst Park and The Meads Open Space. The project involves landscape adjustments and tree planting to mitigate climate change impacts and reduce flood risk to local properties.
Burnt Oak3 min readTrust 50 · Craft 61 · Hype 15
Council & Politics · HendonWest Hendon Playing Fields upgrades include new courts
New tennis and basketball courts, along with an expanded children's play area, have been installed at West Hendon Playing Fields as part of Barnet Council's initial park upgrade phase. Future plans include an all-weather pitch and café.
Hendon3 min readTrust 50 · Craft 80 · Hype 25
Council & Politics · Burnt OakBurnt Oak brook reshaping to improve flood defences
Flood alleviation works are starting in Burnt Oak this month to improve the stability and safety of Burnt Oak Brook. The scheme aims to protect homes and businesses from increased flood risk due to climate change and is part of a wider £6 million project.
Burnt Oak3 min readTrust 76 · Craft 72 · Hype 15
Council & Politics · Burnt OakFlood‑alleviation work starts at Lyndhurst Park and The Meads, reducing risk for Burnt Oak residents
Barnet Council will commence flood‑alleviation works at Lyndhurst Park and The Meads Open Space in Burnt Oak this month. New basins, wetland planting and reshaped slopes aim to lower flood risk for nearby homes and add a biodiverse amenity for residents.
Burnt Oak3 min readTrust 64 · Craft 80 · Hype 15
Local News · New BarnetRailway Bell pub in New Barnet earns five‑star hygiene rating
The Railway Bell on East Barnet Road has been given a five‑star hygiene rating by Barnet Council inspectors. The rating appears on Scores On The Doors, and manager Stephanie Evans praised staff effort. The rating informs customers about food safety standards at the pub.
New Barnet3 min readTrust 50 · Craft 52 · Hype 15
Council & Politics · BarnetBarnet flats keep pumping sewage into rivers as mayor funds pilot
Thames Water identified seven flats with sewage misconnections in October 2024; two remain in Barnet. The mayor has allocated £2.7 million for a pilot officer to tackle the problem, and Barnet Council says it will act swiftly to resolve the remaining cases.
Barnet4 min readTrust 64 · Craft 95 · Hype 30
Property & Planning · Brent Cross82 social rent homes at Brent Cross Town to house Barnet residents from 2029
Barnet Council’s housing register will allocate 82 new social rent homes at Brent Cross Town, part of a 132-home deal by Sovereign Network Group. Work is underway, with residents expected to move in from 2029. The homes will use a gas-free district heating network.
Brent Cross4 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 50- Business · Hendon
Hendon student wins £2,000 for online safety tool
Alina Shiraz, a first-year film student at Middlesex University in Hendon, has won a £2,000 prize for her online safety simulation tool, SafeStory. The project aims to help pupils learn to keep themselves safe. The competition was supported by Barnet Council and Brent Cross Shopping Centre.
Hendon4 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 35 - Council & Politics · Barnet
Barnet Council Considers 5% Tax Hike, Fortnightly Bin Collections
Barnet Council is facing a significant financial challenge, with a projected £200 million deficit that could rise to £243.5 million by 2030-31. Options being considered include a 5% council tax increase and switching bin collections to a fortnightly schedule, a move that could save £400,000 annually.
Barnet4 min readTrust 60 · Craft 71 · Hype 40 - Council & Politics · Chipping Barnet
Chipping Barnet Foodbank Calls for Realistic Universal Credit Rates
Bob Bevil of Chipping Barnet Foodbank has called for Universal Credit rates to be recalculated using a methodology similar to the Living Wage. He states current benefit levels are historical and arbitrary, failing to account for rising essential costs.
Chipping Barnet2 min readTrust 42 · Craft 53 · Hype 10 - World
Barnet faces 16 new Gypsy and Traveller pitches target
Barnet Council is set to be allocated a target of 16 new Gypsy and Traveller pitches by 2036/37 under the draft London Plan. The plan proposes varying targets across London boroughs, with Havering expected to deliver the most pitches.
3 min readTrust 74 · Craft 95 · Hype 30 - Property & Planning · Finchley
Finchley shisha lounge plans submitted retrospectively
Retrospective plans have been submitted to Barnet Council for changes to a commercial property at 225 to 229 Regents Park Road in Finchley. The application seeks permission for a single-storey rear extension to provide additional seating for a shisha lounge with a retractable roof.
Finchley2 min readTrust 30 · Craft 45 · Hype 20 - Local News · Barnet
Barnet GP Surgeries Face Pressure from New Housing
New housing developments in High Barnet and New Barnet are set to increase the local population by over 2,000. However, campaigners state that assurances from developers about GP capacity have been misleading, with plans to expand East Barnet Health Centre appearing to be shelved.
Barnet4 min readTrust 60 · Craft 75 · Hype 20 - Council & Politics · Colindale
Four new heritage lampposts installed in Colindale
Four new lamppost sculptures, known as Waylamps, have been installed along the 125 bus route between Colindale and North Finchley. Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and supported by the Mayor of London's borough of culture programme, the installations aim to help residents and visitors discover Barnet's heritage.
Colindale3 min readTrust 50 · Craft 95 · Hype 30 
Transport & TfL · Burnt OakBurnt Oak Station car park closed until winter 2027/28
The car park at Burnt Oak Station in Watling Avenue has been closed by Barnet Council to allow Transport for London to carry out essential step-free access works. The closure is expected to last until winter 2027/28, prompting concerns from a local community group.
Burnt Oak4 min readTrust 70 · Craft 75 · Hype 20- Council & Politics · Barnet
Dollis Valley Estate Regeneration Deal Collapses, £58.85m Grant Lost
A regeneration deal for Barnet's Dollis Valley Estate has collapsed, resulting in the loss of a £58.85 million Greater London Authority grant. Barnet Council now faces significant demolition costs and uncertainty over the future of condemned blocks.
Barnet5 min readTrust 60 · Craft 75 · Hype 30 - Local News · Cricklewood
Waitrose to open 18,000 sq ft store in Cricklewood this autumn
An 18,000 square foot Waitrose store is set to open on Cricklewood Broadway this autumn. Located at 194-196 Cricklewood Broadway, the supermarket is part of a wider investment by the company to reach new customers. Some local residents have voiced concerns about potential shoplifting.
Cricklewood3 min readTrust 40 · Craft 65 · Hype 45 - Council & Politics · Barnet
Grenfell-linked director appointed at Barnet Group
Laura Johnson, who was director of housing at Kensington and Chelsea Council during the Grenfell Tower fire, has been appointed group director of development and property at The Barnet Group. The role was advertised with a salary up to £157,078. Barnet Council stated the appointment was made on merit.
Barnet3 min readTrust 70 · Craft 75 · Hype 45 - Council & Politics · Barnet
Barnet faces higher housing targets, Green Belt development
Barnet is set to face the highest housing target in London under the draft London Plan, requiring 32,730 new homes between 2028 and 2038. The plan also designates parts of Mill Hill and Chipping Barnet as growth locations and mandates 7,000 homes on Green Belt land.
Barnet4 min readTrust 40 · Craft 60 · Hype 60 
Property & Planning · FinchleyFinchley Home Demolished for Two New Semi-Detached Houses
A residential property in Cyprus Road, Finchley, is set to be demolished and replaced with two new semi-detached homes. The redevelopment proposal, submitted to Barnet Council, also includes plans for new access, parking, outbuildings, and air source heat pumps.
Finchley2 min readTrust 42 · Craft 45 · Hype 20
Property & Planning · WhetstoneWhetstone leaseholders demand answers after year of power cuts and broken promises
Residents at Thatcham Court in Whetstone say freeholder Beechwood Developers Ltd started construction without notice, left power cables exposed, and refused to provide safety documents. Barnet Council found no planning breaches but says lease disputes lie outside its remit.
Whetstone5 min readTrust 55 · Craft 65 · Hype 50- Council & Politics · Barnet
Barnet Council faces £113.5m deficit by 2028, second largest in England
Barnet Council is projected to have a £113.5m budget deficit by 2027/28, the second largest in England. The authority received £55.7m in exceptional financial support for 2025/26 and plans £9.42m in savings for next year, while residents face a £77 increase in band D council tax.
Barnet5 min readTrust 50 · Craft 55 · Hype 35 - Council & Politics · Barnet
CIPFA review finds Barnet Council’s strategy fails to deliver for residents
An independent review by CIPFA has found Barnet Council’s financial problems stem from a failure to turn strategies into action. The report highlights late agenda papers, weak scrutiny, and a cautious culture delaying decisions, while warning of risks in the capital programme and joint ventures.
Barnet5 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 70 - Council & Politics · Barnet
Barnet Council sets 2029 deadline to close £200m budget gap
Barnet Council aims to eliminate its £200 million structural deficit by March 2029, with a financial plan due at cabinet on 12 October. A CIPFA report recommends increasing council tax and reducing bin collections, while the council warns national policy changes are needed to address growing demand for statutory services.
Barnet5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 72 · Hype 50 
Council & Politics · High BarnetBarnet faces new planning rules forcing homes near Tube stations
Barnet Council will be required to adopt a 'default yes' approach to housing schemes near Tube and rail stations under new government planning rules. The policy, announced by Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, aims to boost homebuilding but has drawn criticism from councils over green belt development and local objections.
High Barnet4 min readTrust 74 · Craft 95 · Hype 35
Council & Politics · High BarnetHigh Barnet air pollution halves since 2013 as ULEZ and EV points expand
Barnet Council’s latest air-quality readings show nitrogen dioxide on High Street has dropped by half since 2013. The 2023 ULEZ expansion and a network of 2,045 electric-vehicle charge points are credited. A Sunday play street launched on Calvert Road in April 2025.
High Barnet4 min readTrust 52 · Craft 62 · Hype 15
Property & Planning · HendonHollister to reopen at Brent Cross Shopping Centre in Hendon
Brent Cross Shopping Centre in Hendon has confirmed Hollister will return to an upper-floor unit. The move follows a social media teaser by centre managers and coincides with Hammerson’s plans to modernise the 50-year-old mall’s exterior. Some shoppers have called for other brands, including Uniqlo and Primark.
Hendon4 min readTrust 46 · Craft 44 · Hype 35
Council & Politics · FinchleyBarnet Council extends Finchley charity contract for £586,000
Barnet Council has extended its contract with Barnet Mencap, a Finchley-based charity supporting people with learning disabilities and autism. The £586,000 deal runs from September 2026 to August 2028 and aims to reduce demand for adult social care services.
Finchley4 min readTrust 56 · Craft 87 · Hype 12- Council & Politics · Barnet
Barnet Council extends Solace Women’s Aid contract after Met failings exposed
Barnet Council has extended its contract with Solace Women’s Aid until March 2030, costing £210,000 per year. The decision follows criticism of the Metropolitan Police’s handling of double murderer Simon Levy, who killed two women while on bail for earlier offences.
Barnet5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 95 · Hype 32 - Council & Politics · Barnet
Barnet faces 7,000 Green Belt homes under Mayor’s London Plan
Barnet Council has formally objected to the Mayor of London’s draft plan that proposes 7,000 new homes on the borough’s Green Belt. The consultation closes on 15 October 2026, with at least half of all new homes required to be affordable.
Barnet5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 95 · Hype 35 - Council & Politics · Barnet
Barnet Group workers vote 100% for strike ballot over unequal pay terms
Over 1,000 Barnet Group employees, including housing and social care staff, have voted unanimously for strike action after their demands for equal pay, pensions and conditions with Barnet Council workers were rejected. Unison will proceed with an official ballot later this month.
Barnet5 min readTrust 50 · Craft 66 · Hype 35 - Property & Planning · Hendon
Magnolia Apartments launch in Hendon with 59 flats from £350,000
Barratt London has released 59 new flats at Hendon Waterside, part of a £9.6bn regeneration scheme in West Hendon. Prices start at £350,000 for a one-bedroom unit, with completion expected in 2026. The development includes green spaces, a future NHS walk-in centre, and transport links.
Hendon5 min readTrust 64 · Craft 64 · Hype 35 
Property & Planning · Golders Green139 new homes proposed for former Volvo showroom on The Hyde, Golders Green
Barnet Council has received a planning application to demolish the former Volvo Cars showroom on The Hyde, Golders Green, and replace it with 139 residential units and community space. The proposal includes buildings up to nine storeys high and associated landscaping. Residents can comment before a decision is made.
Golders Green4 min readTrust 56 · Craft 52 · Hype 15
Local News · FinchleyFinchley Memorial Hospital pharmacy to close on 31 August
The pharmacy at Finchley Memorial Hospital will shut at the end of August after the North West London Integrated Care Board declined to renew its contract. Local MP Sarah Sackman has launched a campaign to retain on-site services, while the ICB points to nine alternative pharmacies within one mile.
Finchley4 min readTrust 68 · Craft 73 · Hype 20- Council & Politics · Barnet
Barnet depot workers owed £14,400 each in holiday pay ballot on strike
Barnet Council depot workers, owed an average of £14,400 each in unpaid holiday pay dating back to 2013, have rejected a six-month backpay offer. A strike ballot closes on 18 August 2026, with industrial action expected if the dispute remains unresolved. Council leader Barry Rawlings faced criticism after reportedly saying the money could only be recovered by taking it from disabled children.
Barnet6 min readTrust 56 · Craft 95 · Hype 55 
Council & Politics · HendonBarnet Hill Academy to become first state-funded Islamic faith school in September 2026
Barnet Council will take over Barnet Hill Academy in West Hendon, ending its 20-year run as a fee-paying independent school. The move, approved by children’s services director John Anthony, aims to provide more places for Muslim families in the borough, where 12% of residents identify as Muslim.
Hendon5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 85 · Hype 15
Council & Politics · BarnetBarnet Council installs 27 mobile CCTV cameras in anti-social behaviour hotspots
Barnet Council has begun installing 27 additional mobile CCTV cameras across the borough, targeting areas with reported anti-social behaviour. The cameras, monitored live by council and police teams, are part of a 2022 upgrade plan. Residents’ reports have helped identify priority locations.
Barnet4 min readTrust 58 · Craft 62 · Hype 30
Property & Planning · Mill HillAmazon opens 100,000 sq ft delivery hub in Mill Hill creating 80 jobs
Amazon will open a 100,000 square foot delivery station at Pentavia Retail Park in Mill Hill this October, creating 80 permanent jobs with salaries starting at £31,824. The site will serve Barnet customers and offer hundreds of additional driver roles through its delivery partners programme.
Mill Hill4 min readTrust 64 · Craft 62 · Hype 15- Council & Politics · Barnet
Noah’s Ark Hospice launches £1m appeal with Barnet councillors’ backing
Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice in Barnet has begun a £1 million fundraising drive, From That Moment, running until 12 October 2026. Barnet councillors and the Deputy Mayor of London for Children and Families attended the launch. The hospice needs £7 million annually and relies on donations for 76% of its income.
Barnet5 min readTrust 56 · Craft 80 · Hype 15 
Local News · BarnetBarnet Vale gardens left dry as council repairs stall
Residents on a guided walk through Barnet Vale’s public gardens learned the water feature at Highlands Gardens has been out of service for months. The 1931 park, once part of the Lyonsdown Estate, sits alongside Greenhill Gardens and a community garden at St John’s URC.
Barnet4 min readTrust 30 · Craft 59 · Hype 15- Council & Politics · Barnet
Barnet loses £58m GLA grant after Dollis Valley call-in delay
Barnet Council has forfeited £58 million in Greater London Authority funding after Conservative councillors called in a cabinet decision to purchase 208 affordable homes at Dollis Valley Estate. The delay meant the grant was withdrawn, leaving the regeneration scheme in limbo.
Barnet5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 95 · Hype 28 
WorldBreyer Holdings collapses: 285 jobs at risk as roofing firm enters administration
Breyer Holdings Limited, which operates Breyer Roofing, Breyer Repar and Breyer Renew, appointed joint administrators on 3 August. The firm employed 285 people and held B Corp certification before Google listed it as permanently closed.
5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 52 · Hype 15
WorldLondon burial space to run out in 17 boroughs by 2040, City Hall audit shows
More than half of London’s local authorities will have no burial space left by 2040, a City Hall audit reveals. Barnet Council is among those told to reuse old graves and consider ‘grey-belt’ land to meet rising demand from an ageing population.
5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 95 · Hype 45
Council & Politics · Chipping BarnetMays Lane parking charges cut to one hour after trader petition
Barnet Council has reduced parking charges on Mays Lane, Chipping Barnet, to a single hour between 2pm and 3pm after traders warned all-day fees threatened their businesses. The experimental change runs until 3 February 2027, with residents invited to comment by 3 January 2027.
Chipping Barnet5 min readTrust 66 · Craft 87 · Hype 18
Local News · BarnetBarnet Physic Well open day returns on 15 August
The Barnet Physic Well, a historic mineral spring dating to the 1600s, will open to the public on 15 August from 2pm to 4pm. The free event offers a chance to visit the underground chamber and learn about its past as a local landmark believed to have healing properties.
Barnet4 min readTrust 36 · Craft 67 · Hype 15
Council & Politics · Golders GreenBarnet Labour demands Tories drop ex-neo-Nazi adviser
Barnet Council leader Barry Rawlings has written to Conservative opposition leader Peter Zinkin urging him to condemn the appointment of Joshua Bonehill-Paine, jailed for antisemitic offences, as an adviser to the Conservative Party. Zinkin declined, citing rehabilitation principles.
Golders Green5 min readTrust 50 · Craft 52 · Hype 48
Property & Planning · HendonHendon Way mixed-use building faces HMO conversion and rear extension plans
Residents in Hendon have until the council’s consultation closes to comment on plans to extend and convert a mixed-use building on Hendon Way. The proposal includes a three-storey rear extension, six dormers and the creation of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs).
Hendon5 min readTrust 40 · Craft 52 · Hype 12
Council & Politics · BarnetBarnet Council excludes public from Dollis Valley regeneration finance meeting
Barnet Council’s sub-committee barred residents from part of a special meeting on the failed Dollis Valley regeneration scheme. The £58.85m Greater London Authority grant was withdrawn after the deal with developer Vistry collapsed, leaving 208 affordable homes unbuilt and vacant blocks at risk of demolition.
Barnet5 min readTrust 58 · Craft 87 · Hype 15
Property & Planning · CricklewoodWaitrose signage plans for Cricklewood Broadway store go to consultation
Barnet Council has opened a consultation on signage plans for the new Waitrose store in Cricklewood Broadway. The 1,665 sq metre supermarket will occupy the ground floor of the Eden NW2 development, with a reduced sales area and expanded staff facilities.
Cricklewood5 min readTrust 68 · Craft 60 · Hype 30
Council & Politics · BarnetBarnet Council’s food waste collections reach 100 tonnes weekly after Labour revival
Barnet Council’s reinstated food waste collection service now gathers over 100 tonnes weekly, following its March 2026 relaunch. The scheme, cut in 2018 despite Mayor of London advice, has logged two million collections with only 17 fox-related spillage complaints, the council reports.
Barnet4 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 35
Property & Planning · BarnetBarnet Council loses £58.85m GLA grant for Dollis Valley affordable homes
Barnet Council has lost a £58.85 million Greater London Authority grant for affordable housing in Dollis Valley, delaying the redevelopment. A call-in sub-committee will review the decision on 4 August 2026 amid resident objections and financial uncertainty.
Barnet5 min readTrust 55 · Craft 60 · Hype 35
Council & Politics · BarnetFly-tipping in Barnet: £500 for a first offence, £350 if you pay quickly
Barnet fines fly-tipping at £500 for a first offence, reduced to £350 within fourteen days, rising to £600 for a second and prosecution for a third. This covers how to report a tip, the penalties for littering and dog fouling, and what happens if you do not pay.
Barnet4 min read- Transport & TfL · Barnet
Blue Badge in Barnet: free to apply, £10 for the badge
Applying for a Blue Badge in Barnet is free; producing the badge costs £10 and processing takes twelve weeks or longer. Barnet’s own eligibility page is out of date in two places, so this guide follows the national rules where they differ.
Barnet5 min read - Lifestyle & Food · Barnet
Barnet allotments: the council does not run a waiting list
Unlike most London boroughs, Barnet does not hold a central allotment waiting list or set a borough-wide rent. Around forty sites are run by individual societies who handle their own allocations. This explains how to actually get a plot.
Barnet3 min read 
Council & Politics · BarnetBarnet bulky waste collection: £46.71 for up to three items
Barnet charges £46.71 to collect one to three bulky items, rising in bands to £119.30 for ten. This covers what counts as an item, what they will take, the 6am rule that catches people out, and what is excluded.
Barnet4 min read