Barnet Council has formed a partnership with U+I and Joseph Partners to work on the renewal of North Finchley High Road.
The partnership will explore the best way to create a thriving and successful high street, and town centre. The partnership will now move into an active period of community engagement. Following this, a North Finchley Partnership Board will be established, made up of representatives from the local community, local councillors and local businesses, to act as an advisory and scrutiny panel. The Panel will be chaired by Barnet Councillor, Gabriel Rozenberg, and recruitment to the panel will start later in 2019 and run alongside the first consultation events.
Councillor Daniel Thomas, Leader of Barnet Council, said: “We are absolutely committed to supporting our high streets in these challenging times, to ensure they are the heart and soul of community life in Barnet. At North Finchley, we have already adopted an SPD, supported throughout on a cross-party basis, and I am delighted to welcome U+I and Joseph Partners, who I know are both committed to genuine engagement with local communities.
“This is a hugely exciting opportunity and I do hope local people will become engaged in this process once the first engagement events are announced. I can also confirm that we will establish a North Finchley Partnership Board to properly empower and represent the community as the plans develop and my thanks go to Cllr Gabriel Rozenberg, who I know will be a strong and effective Chair.”
Matthew Weiner, Chief Executive Officer, U+I, said: “Too often local communities are involved in development decisions once everything is largely agreed between the developer and the Council. This will not be the case at North Finchley. We want to ensure that we embed the wants and aspirations of local people right from the very beginning and for that engagement to be genuine and authentic.”
Jonathan Joseph, founder of Joseph Partners, said: “I am thrilled that we have such a strong partner in U+I and that we can now move into the research and consultation phase. I passionately believe that, working together with Council and local people, we can help shape a bright future for North Finchley High Road so that it meets the challenges faced by town centres up and down the country.”
