The first phase of a £4 billion master plan to transform parks and green space across Brent Cross and Cricklewood has been given the go ahead.
Planners at Barnet Council have given the thumbs up to major upgrades due to start in 2017 including new sports pitches, wildlife areas and a Pavilion planned at Clitterhouse Playing fields.
Land at Claremont Way will also be transformed into a park as part of plans submitted by the Brent Cross Cricklewood Development Partners.
The consent paves the way for the extensive re-landscaping of Clitterhouse playing fields with a sports pavilion designed by RIBA prize-winning architects featuring a café, toilets and changing rooms overlooking six new tennis courts, a skate park, an outdoor gym and a variety of games pitches.
The historic farm buildings on Clitterhouse playing fields will be retained as part of the plan, which will deliver the equivalent of 15 full size football pitches -or an additional 22 acres of community green space- when complete in mid-2018.
Under the plans Claremont way open space will be made into a community park featuring children’s play and picnic facilities and a woodland planted area in addition to new entrance plazas leading in from Brent Terrace and Claremont Road.
Ben Littman, development manager at developers Hammerson, said:“We are pleased to receive approval for our plans for Clitterhouse Playing Fields and Claremont Park. These upgrades will offer something special for communities across the area, turning two underused spaces into parks that will be delivered at the very start of the regeneration.
The remaining phases of the regeneration plan, which are awaiting planning approval over the coming months will see major investment in the creation of Central Brent Riverside Park and roads, junctions and bridges in Brent and Cricklewood.
Barnet Council Leader, Councillor Richard Cornelius, said: “Barnet has a large number of excellent green spaces and we know how much they are valued by our residents. I’m delighted that these plans for new sports facilities and open spaces will contribute to that.
“I am eager for the development to start so that these facilities can be enjoyed by people for many years to come.”
The first phase of the Brent Cross Cricklewood masterplan also includes the replacement homes for the first part of the Whitefield Estate, which was consented by Barnet’s planning committee on 18 May 2015.
Investment partners Hammerson and Standard Life Investments are due to launch their vision for the transformation of Brent Cross Shopping Centre later this year.
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