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Burnt Oak Looking Forward

Author: Brendan Steinhardt

Published:

Two years on from the start of the Burnt Oak Town Centre project, the transformation of the town is now starting to take shape.

The council identified a need to invest in the town centre, implementing the Burnt Oak Town Centre project in mid-2015.

This included putting significant funding towards the development of a strategy for the town centre and the delivery of public realm improvements to make Burnt Oak a more attractive town centre for shoppers and traders.

These changes support Burnt Oak to become a thriving town centre, serving residents with a range of local amenities and affordable retail facilities for businesses.

The Burnt Oak Town Centre plan takes a partnership approach to improving the area and to date some of the changes include:

  • Improving the forecourts of the high street’s community assets to create an attractive and well signposted Community Cluster including the Love Burnt Oak Community Resource Hub and the Burnt Oak library
  • Creating a more welcoming public space outside the Burnt Oak tube station by removing clutter, building an attractive new kiosk and installing a mural along the railway bridge
  • Working with shops along Watling Avenue to improve their shop fronts and how they display their commodities.

Councillor Daniel Thomas, Chair of Assets, Regeneration and Growth Committee, said: “It’s wonderful to see our town centres refreshed and full of energy which encourages residents to shop, invest and brings visitors to our towns. We recognise these changes are only part of the early stages of a wider plan to regenerate key town centres in Barnet to improve the lives of people who live, work in or visit the borough as part of our Entrepreneurial Barnet approach.

“In partnership with Re, the council has supported businesses with shop fronts, layouts, environmental improvements and are supporting local people and traders to set up a ‘Town Team’.

“The council has also submitted an Expression of Interest to secure further funding from the GLA towards progressing medium and longer term improvements identified in the Burnt Oak Town Centre Strategy.”

For more information, visit Burnt Oak Town Centre project strategy.