OnSide Youth Zones will host a public consultation event at Burnt Oak Library on Thursday 15th December where local residents can find more information on proposals for Barnet Youth Zone - Unitas.
The charity is working alongside the London Borough of Barnet to develop a brand new £6 million Youth Zone in Montrose Park, Burnt Oak which will open in 2018. The Youth Zone will be named Unitas after a borough-wide vote in which 2,000 young people took part.
Over the next few weeks, prior to the submission of a planning application to the London Borough of Barnet, OnSide will be consulting on its plans with interested groups and the local community.
As part of this, the charity will be holding a one-day public exhibition for local residents and businesses to view the plans, ask questions and comment on the proposals.
Members of the Youth Zone’s project team will be available to answer any questions at the library between 12.30pm and 6pm.
OnSide Deputy Chief Executive Rob Carter said: “Barnet Youth Zone has been designed to be a centre for young people, which all the community can be proud of. It will provide high-quality sports, arts and general recreational facilities for thousands of local young people in a safe and secure environment.
“The centre is based on the growing OnSide Youth Zone network of facilities across the country, which are used by more than 14,000 young people every week.
“Residents will be able to see some of the plans, speak with members of the project team and ask any questions they may have.”
The Youth Zone, which is to be developed on Montrose Playing Fields in Burnt Oak subject to planning permission , near to Grahame Park and Colindale, will cost £1million per annum to run. OnSide will secure revenue funding for the first three years prior to opening from a combination of private sector and charitable trusts and grants.
In September 2015 Barnet Council agreed to invest £4.2 million towards the Youth Zone’s £6m development costs, as well as providing the site.
The aim of the Youth Zone is to raise the aspirations, enhance prospects and improve health and wellbeing for young people in Barnet, by providing affordable access to a wide range of programmes, services and activities including sports, arts, music, employability and mentoring.
Councillor Reuben Thompstone, Chairman of the Children, Education, Safeguarding and Libraries Committee, said: “I am delighted that plans for Barnet’s Youth Zone are progressing. I would like to encourage as many people as possible to come along to the event, take a look at the proposed designs and take the opportunity to ask any questions they may have.”