In December 2005, Barnet Council agreed a new planning policy for the area to create a town
centre for the borough. Backed by the Mayor of London, it formspart of the Council’s ‘Three Strands’ approach which is to protect the Green Belt and open spaces, to enhance the suburbs and to allow growth within certain areas. The creation of a new town centre is based around six core themes, although the detailed information in this booklet is still subject to change as the planning application progresses.

1. Great Parks and Green Open Spaces

The area will be characterised by generous open green spaces. Existing areas of open space will be improved and new parks and nature parks will be created with a range of different habitats. Clitterhouse Playing Fields will be substantially improved to create a Destination Park for North West London, with new sports, play and changing facilities.

2. A High Street of Character

All successful town centres operate around a thriving High Street, and Brent Cross Cricklewood
will be no exception. Lined with trees, shops and cafés, the High Street will connect the mainline train station and commercial district in the West to Brent Cross Shopping Centre and the bus station in the North, passing through a series of public squares and over a new bridge across the North Circular Road (A406).

3. Beautiful Residential Streets

The vast majority of the 7,500 homes will be apartments, providing 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes including affordable housing and new children’s play facilities. Building heights range from 3 to 6 and 6 to 8 storeys where near to existing homes, rising to 12 or 15 storeys where next to main roads with some buildings of 18 to 20 storeys.

4.New Schools, Jobs and Community Facilities

New schools with modern facilities will be built to replace the current buildings for Whitefield School, Mapledown School and Claremont Primary School. All of these schools will have additional places to cater for the increased number of children who will be living in this area. New health facilities will be built. A new sports and leisure centre will replace Hendon Sports Centre and a community centre, library and other facilities will also be provided. Thousands of permanent new jobs will be created, supported in the later stages by a new commercial district linked to the new train station.

5. A Thriving Shopping Destination

Brent Cross will change from an inward looking, out-of-town shopping centre, to a key part of a new town centre for the area. Vehicles will be filtered off into basement level or multi-story car parks with new shops opening out into a pedestrian-only High Street and public square. New cafes, restaurants and leisure facilities, including a multi-screen cinema, will overlook an improved River Brent and remain open into the evening.

6. Easy to get to and easy to get around

A new mainline train station and freight facility on the Midland Mainline will be built to connect to Kings Cross and beyond. Brent Cross Bus Station will be replaced with a new, much larger bus station, facilitating new routes and more frequent services. New road junctions and pedestrian bridges off the A41 and Edgware Road will create new routes to and from the area. Major junction improvements across the area will improve journey times.

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