Barnet News
The latest Barnet news: planning decisions, council and crime updates, business and community stories, each linked back to its official source.
All News
Council news
Licensing
Edgware Arcade at 226 Station Road Gets Its Gambling Licence
Barnet councillors granted Palace Amusements at 226 Station Road, Edgware, a gaming centre licence on 3 November. Public Health's objection was ruled invalid.
Sport news
Barnet FC
Barnet's FA Cup Tie at Plymouth Parkway Is Live on TNT Sports
Barnet FC play Plymouth Parkway in the FA Cup second round on Sunday 6 December, kick-off 5.30pm, live on TNT Sports 1. The U18s host Sudbury on 19 November.
Finchley Foodbank
Finchley Foodbank Now Helps With Benefits and Energy Bills
Finchley Foodbank's new Information and Support Service helps clients check benefits, cut energy bills and find work, at its Tuesday and Saturday sessions.
Council
Edmonton Incinerator Deal Puts Barnet's Waste Bill at £31m a Year
Barnet's waste disposal cost is forecast at £31m a year from 2030/31, after the Edmonton incinerator contract rose from £885.1m to £1.25bn. It is £17.1m now.
TfL
High Barnet Station Homes Partner Says It Added £1bn
Places for London, TfL's partner on High Barnet Place and Edgware's Broadwalk scheme, says it added £447m to London in 2025/26 and £1bn since 2023.
Planning
Hertsmere's Local Plan Puts 900 Homes and Two Data Centre Sites Just North of Barnet, and Comments Close on 19 November
Hertsmere plans 16,893 homes by 2041, including 900 south of Potters Bar and a 5,000-home town at Bowmans Cross. Comments close at 11.59pm on 19 November.
News update
Business
A Wood-Fired Sauna With Two Plunge Pools Is Coming to Clitterhouse Playing Fields in Cricklewood
A 16-person wood-fired sauna with two plunge pools is coming to Clitterhouse Playing Fields. Our Yard says it will open Thursday to Sunday, with no date yet.
Travel update
Northern line
Northern line: severe delays after Edgware branch suspension
TfL no longer lists the Camden Town to Edgware suspension. The Northern line still has severe delays, and London Buses accept Tube tickets, TfL says.
Travel update
Northern line
Northern line severe delays continue after Golders Green suspension
TfL now lists severe delays on the Northern line, not a suspension, after an earlier points failure at Mornington Crescent. Buses accept Tube tickets.
Mayor of London
Mayor Takes the ULEZ Disinformation Fight to COP31
65% of Londoners told YouGov there is a lot or a fair amount of climate disinformation on social media. Sadiq Khan takes the ULEZ row to COP31 in Türkiye.
CCTV
Barnet CCTV Grows to 60 Moveable Cameras and 950 Feeds
Barnet Council now has 60 moveable CCTV cameras and 950 live camera feeds. Council papers from 2022 show 127 fixed cameras, only 37 of them then working.
Parks
West Hendon Playing Fields 3G Pitch Will Not Be Decided Before Summer 2027
The floodlit 3G pitch planned for West Hendon Playing Fields will not be decided before summer 2027, because planners want a year of ecology surveys first.
Shopping
Brent South Retail Park Gets a New Sofa Showroom and Stays Open Until at Least 2029
Brent South Retail Park will now trade until at least 2029. TK Maxx and Sofology have renewed, and Darlings of Chelsea takes an empty unit.
Council news
Planning
Barnet Moves to Sell Fairway Playground in Mill Hill for the Stoney Wood Quarter Homes
Barnet Council will advertise the sale of Fairway Playground to the Stoney Wood Quarter developer. Objections will be read before a final decision is made.
Heatwave
Heatwaves Cost London £2.5bn This Summer, City Hall Says
City Hall puts the cost of London's 2026 heatwaves at about £2.5bn in lost work, and over £25bn in ten years if they continue. Sadiq Khan takes it to COP31.
Transport
No Elizabeth Line at Tottenham Court Road on 28 and 29 November
No Elizabeth line trains from Paddington to Abbey Wood, Shenfield or Heathrow on 28 and 29 November. Paddington shuts too, so use the Piccadilly for Heathrow.
Council
Barnet Council Overspent Three Repair Contracts by £932,000
Barnet Council spent £2.11m on three building repair contracts approved for £1.18m. Cabinet is asked on 17 November to sign off the extra £932,000 after the event.
Children
Barnet Has Lost 23 Foster Families in Five Years
Barnet now has 96 foster households, down from 119 in 2021, and more of its children in care live with agency carers than its own. School attendance and jobs are up.
Council
Hendon Hub Regeneration Is Being Scrapped After Middlesex University Pulled Out
Barnet Council is formally closing the Hendon Hub scheme on The Burroughs. Middlesex University withdrew in 2024, and Cabinet is due to decide on 15 December.
Housing
Up to 20 Social Rent Homes Planned on the Former East Barnet Library Site
Barnet Council plans up to 20 social rent homes on the old East Barnet Library site in Brookhill Road. Cabinet takes a key legal step on 17 November.
Fly-tipping
Barnet Fly-Tippers Fined £42,500 After CCTV Pilot
Barnet Council issued £42,500 of fly-tipping fines from April to October using CCTV, with £13,000 paid so far. Each fine is £500, or £600 for a second offence.
Housing
Barnet Started 876 Affordable Homes Last Year as London Beat Its Target
Barnet started 876 affordable homes in 2025-26, second only to Tower Hamlets, as London beat its target with 21,001 starts. City Hall figures, 10 November 2026.
Bins
Barnet Bin Strike Ballot Opens 11 November Over Holiday Pay
Barnet's bin, recycling and street cleaning workers vote on strike action from 11 November to 9 December, UNISON says. No strike dates have been set.
Planning
David Lloyd Finchley Asks to Open From 6am Every Day
David Lloyd Finchley has applied to let members in from 6am every day, an hour earlier on weekdays and two and a half hours earlier on Sundays. Comments close 3 December.
Fostering
Barnet Joins North London Fostering Hub to Find More Carers
Barnet has joined five councils in a new North London Fostering Hub to find carers. Pay is up to £519 a week, and renters and full-time workers can apply.
Air quality
High Air Pollution Alert for Barnet on Tuesday 10 November
City Hall has issued a high air pollution alert for London, Barnet included, for Tuesday 10 November. Fog, fireworks and wood smoke let particles build up.
Transport
Oxford Street Traffic Free: Footfall Up 16% in Week One
Footfall rose 16% and spending 28% in Oxford Street's first traffic-free week, City Hall says. Buses ran well, TfL says, including the four from Barnet.
Remembrance
Barnet Falls Silent: Mayor Leads Remembrance at Hendon
The Mayor of Barnet, Cllr Zahra Beg, laid a wreath at Hendon War Memorial on Remembrance Sunday. Armistice Day follows on 11 November in Friern Barnet.
Council
Barnet Council still needs £73.3m of emergency borrowing
Barnet expects to borrow £73.3m this year to pay for day-to-day services, £6m less than approved. The NHS owes it £7.7m and council tax collection has slipped.
Brent Cross
Brent Cross Town shifts to rentals as home sales stall
A new business plan for Brent Cross Town leans on rented homes, co-living and a data centre. The partners say they cannot take any returns from the scheme for now.
Court
Golders Green Shop Fined Over 17,740 Illegal Cigarettes
Mama Food Store and its director must pay almost £9,500 after Barnet Trading Standards seized 887 packets of illegal cigarettes, some from a safe cut open.
Bins
Timed bin bag collections planned for seven Barnet town centres
Barnet Council wants timed bin bag collections in seven town centres, including High Barnet and North Finchley. Councillors discuss the plan on Monday 9 November.
Fly-tipping
Barnet fly-tipping rises 22%, and Cricklewood is worst hit
Recorded fly-tipping in Barnet was 22% higher from April to July than a year earlier. Four wards, led by Cricklewood, each logged more than 1,000 in a year.
Remembrance
City Hall Remembers the Somme, 110 Years On, Before Barnet's Sunday
The Mayor of London laid a wreath at City Hall on Friday for the Somme, the Gulf War, Bosnia and Iraq. Barnet's own 16 services are on Sunday 8 November.
Community
Barnet Groups Can Bid for Waste Grants of Up to £20,000
Barnet community groups can now apply for waste-cutting grants of up to £20,000 from a £250,000 pot. Applications close on 16 February 2027.
Transport
Night Tube Turns 10 With 12 Barnet Stations on the Route
Twelve Barnet stations are on the Night Tube, now 10 years old, and High Barnet is 33 minutes from Leicester Square at 2.41am. Checked November 2026.
Crime
Barnet Knife Crime Up 22%, the Biggest Rise in London
Barnet recorded 408 knife crime offences in the year to August, up 22% while London fell 9.7%. Figures for all 24 wards are here. Checked November 2026.
Transport
Oxford Street Traffic Free: What Changes for Barnet Buses
The 13, 113, 139 and 189 from Barnet now use stops off Oxford Street's closed stretch, and the Northern line still gets you there. Checked November 2026.
Transport
Only 3.7% of Barnet Residents Live Near a Main Cycle Route
Only 3.7% of Barnet residents live within 400 metres of London's strategic cycle network, against 45.9% in Enfield. Figures checked November 2026.
London Assembly
Assembly Backs Jewish Londoners 19 to 3 in Eight Motions
The London Assembly voted 19 to 3 to stand with Jewish Londoners and 20 to 1 for Grenfell justice on 5 November. Here is what all eight motions ask for.
Community
Barnet Freedom of Borough: Hatzola, CST and Shomrim Honoured
Five Jewish volunteer and security groups now hold Barnet's highest honour, marked at Hendon Town Hall on Monday. Why each was chosen, and what they said.
What's on
Holocaust Rescue Exhibition at Barnet Library to 14 December
Between Life and Death is at Chipping Barnet Library until 14 December, telling rescue stories from 15 countries. Staffed hours, the address and what it shows.
Council
Barnet Social Care Under CQC Assessment: 138 Complaints
The CQC has begun a 19-week assessment of Barnet's adult social care. Council papers also show 138 complaints, two care homes closing and staffing risks.
Business
La Brioche Hendon Bakery Placed Into Liquidation
The company behind La Brioche on Brent Street, Hendon, has appointed a liquidator, Gazette notices show. Who creditors should call, and what is not yet known.
Cost of living
Barnet Not Yet in City Hall's £4.7m Family Advice Scheme
Barnet is not yet in City Hall's family benefits scheme, but Citizens Advice runs free drop-ins at four libraries this month. Checked November 2026.
London Assembly
No Vaping Figures for Barnet's Children, City Hall Hears
Vaping rates are not collected by borough, the Assembly heard on 4 November, so no one can say how many Barnet children vape. Shop licences are on the way.
Roads
Barnet Road Repairs 2027: £18.8m Plan, £103m Backlog
Barnet plans £18.75m of road and pavement repairs in 2027-28, with more for footways. Fixing every worn road would cost £103m. Councillors see it on 9 November.
Schools
Barnet SEND Budget Heads for £17.2m Overspend This Year
Barnet's SEND budget is forecast £17.2m over, wiping out its schools reserve. 42 of its 71 council-run primary schools expect to end the year in deficit.
Licensing
Mayor Gets Final Say on Big Barnet Licensing Cases
From 3 November Sadiq Khan can call in licensing bids for large venues, live music, later hours and festivals after Barnet's decision, and make the final call.
Transport
TfL Fare Dodger Crackdown: 24 Arrests in First Month
Plain-clothes police and TfL inspectors stopped 467 people and made 24 arrests in Operation Vector's first month. What it means at Barnet's Tube stations.
Transport
West London Orbital Named in Budget as a New Levy Target
The Budget names the Hendon-to-Hounslow West London Orbital as a line a new London business rates levy could help pay for. TfL drop-ins: Brent Cross West 3 Nov, Hendon 5 Nov.
Roads
Exeter Road No Right Turn: 804 Sign Petition to End Trial
804 people signed the petition to end Barnet's peak-hour no right turn into Exeter Road, N14, which closes today. That is enough to go to a council committee. How to object by January.
Housing
Barnet Council at Fault: 19 Months in Unsuitable Housing
The Ombudsman found Barnet Council at fault for leaving a wheelchair user in temporary housing it had judged unsuitable for 19 months. It must pay £100 a month, £1,900.
Food hygiene
Barnet Food Hygiene: Three Rated 1, Rugby Club Off Zero
Three Barnet food businesses were rated 1 and ten rated 2 in late September inspections. Hendon Rugby Club climbed from zero to three. All 83 new ratings, by score.
Housing
Barnet Council Tenants Face New Management Fee of Up to 15%
Barnet council tenants face a new management fee of up to 15% on service charges from April 2027. Consultation runs from 2 November to 18 December.
News update
Golders Green
Kosher Kingdom Golders Green Hours: 7am, Late Wed and Thu
Kosher Kingdom is open at 217-219 Golders Green Road, 7am to 10pm Sun-Tue and to midnight Wed-Thu. This week's Shabbat hours and loyalty card details.
Cost of living
Barnet £100 Energy Payment: Only 53% of Homes Qualify
About 85,000 Barnet homes are in council tax bands A to D, 53% of the borough against 81% in England. Who gets the Budget's £100 from January and how.
Council
Barnet Declares a Gambling Harms Emergency: What Changes
Full Council carried the gambling harms emergency on 20 October with 30 votes in favour. What it commits Barnet to, and the slots hearings on 3 November.
Council
Barnet Votes 29 to 1 to Explore Twinning With Haifa
Full Council backed talks on a Haifa twinning 29 to 1 on 20 October, with Labour abstaining. How every motion went, from antisemitism to the London Plan.
Council tax
Barnet Signs Council Tax Protocol: Earlier Help on Arrears
Barnet Council signed the Citizens Advice Council Tax Protocol on 29 October, promising earlier contact and fairer arrears handling for struggling residents.
Licensing
Golders Green and Edgware Slots Licences Go to Hearing
Merkur Slots on Finchley Road and Palace Amusements on Edgware's Station Road face Barnet licensing hearings on 3 November after Public Health objected.
Planning
East Finchley Nursery Play Area Approved Unanimously
Councillors approved the Langley House nursery play area unanimously on 28 October, overturning officers. The High Barnet care home extension was approved too.
Fire
Fire Brigade Asks for £10m Security Cash After Hatzola Arson
Assembly members want the Government to give London Fire Brigade £10m for national security work, after the arson attacks on London's Jewish community.
Charity
Trent Park Wildlife Centre Needs £40,000 to Stay Open
The wildlife rescue at Trent Park, just over the Enfield border from East Barnet, says it needs £40,000 to keep going. A local appeal has raised £12,295 so far.
Pubs
Sebright Arms reopens in High Barnet under local owners
The Sebright Arms on Alston Road reopened on 22 October under two local residents. A family-first refit is due in 2027, and they want your ideas first.
Community
Barnet Community Projects Gets £13,098 Asda Grant
Barnet Community Projects won £13,098 from the Asda Foundation for new facilities, one of 73 groups picked from 749 bids for the Local Community Spaces Fund.
Jobs
Barnet Claimant Count Up 370 to 13,230 in September
13,230 Barnet residents claimed out-of-work benefits in September, up 370 in a month, the biggest rise since February 2025. Cricklewood is highest at 8.6%.
Planning
Golders Green Slots Centre Refused 7-0, Against Officers
Barnet councillors refused the Merkur Slots gaming centre at 867 Finchley Road 7 votes to 0, overturning officers' advice. The 130-room Hotel Unique scheme was approved.
Council
Barnet Group Strike 27 October: Housing and Care Staff Out
UNISON members at Barnet Homes and Your Choice Barnet will strike for 24 hours on Tuesday 27 October. Bin crews could follow before Christmas in a pay row.
Court
Hendon shop pays £10,144 for selling knife to 15-year-olds
Pound Island on Vivian Avenue sold a kitchen knife to two 15-year-old police cadets with no ID check. The council's prosecution ended in £10,144 of penalties.
Planning
Finchley Golf Club padel plan: floodlit courts until 10pm
Finchley Golf Club wants two floodlit padel courts in its Frith Lane car park, open 7am to 10pm in summer. Comments close 5 November; the noise report inside.
Schools
Ark Pioneer's first sixth form: 42% go to Russell Group
42% of Ark Pioneer Academy's first sixth form leavers went to Russell Group universities. A-level grades by subject, and the 22 October open evening.
Charity
Noah's Ark Barnet appeal hits £1.27m from 1,766 donors
Noah's Ark Children's Hospice in Barnet beat its £1 million From That Moment target early. The appeal page showed £1,273,098 from 1,766 donors after it closed.
Business
Council-owned estate agent Bumblebee opens in New Barnet
Bumblebee Property, owned through Barnet Council, has opened its first shop at 26 East Barnet Road. Its fees, hours and £40,000 empty-homes grant link.
Planning
Golders Green Hotel Unique: 130-Room Plan Approved 8-0
Barnet's Planning Committee approved a 114-room new hotel behind the Refectory pub on Finchley Road, plus 16 rooms in the existing building, by 8 votes to 0 on 14 October.
Planning
Golders Green Slots Plan: 30 Objections, Then Refused 7-0
Merkur Slots wanted a 7am to midnight gaming centre at 867 Finchley Road. Officers backed it despite 30 objections; councillors refused it 7 votes to 0 on 14 October.
Schools
Barnet SEND Plan Approved: 189 New Special School Places
Government has signed off Barnet's SEND and Alternative Provision Reform Plan. It funds 189 new specialist places in 2026/27, a £3.19m support programme and a £5.6m capital signal, with 5,044 children on EHCPs.
Council
Barnet Council: £200m plan approved, Full Council on 20 Oct
Cabinet approved the £200m savings plan and a £3.5m drug treatment top-up on 12 October. Full Council then debates eight motions, including gambling harms.
Food hygiene
Barnet Hygiene Ratings: 34 New Fives, Two Twos in September
Every Barnet food hygiene rating published since 12 September is a five, from the Black Horse in Wood Street to Odos on the High Street. Two September inspections scored a two: SOYO in Golders Green and Woodhouse Tandoori.
Environment
Barnet Climate Action Week: Free Repair Record Bid Saturday
Free repairs for broken kettles, bikes and clothes at Cultivate Colindale on Saturday 10 October, 11am to 3pm, in a London record bid. 17 events to 18 October.
Housing
Barnet's 5,361 Empty Homes: Council Checks 100 in One Night
Barnet has 5,361 homes empty for over six months as 3,000+ households live in temporary accommodation. Owners face up to 300% council tax; grants reach £40,000.
Council
Barnet Council's Colindale HQ needs 2 years of fire repairs
Barnet's 2019 Colindale offices have fire safety defects. Repairs run November 2026 to November 2028; Cabinet approved £770,136 of oversight on 12 October.
Council
Barnet Finance Chief Anisa Darr to Leave in December
Anisa Darr, Barnet's finance director and Section 151 officer since 2017, leaves in December. Two new assistant director posts follow, one at about £150,000.
Housing
Barnet HMO checks: 22 of 76 homes face licence investigation
One evening of Barnet Council HMO checks led to 22 investigations over missing licences. £187,000 in HMO fines so far this year; visits go on for 12 months.
Council finances
Barnet's £200m budget plan approved; tax rise not yet agreed
Cabinet approved Barnet's £200m savings plan on 12 October. £70m of it relies on a council tax rise above the 5% cap, which still needs government agreement.
Schools
Queen Elizabeth's School Ofsted: Exceptional in all 7 areas
Queen Elizabeth's School in Barnet is rated Exceptional, Ofsted's new top grade, in all seven areas of its first report card. What inspectors found, and the full report.
Schools
Barnet GCSE results 2026: 42% of grades at 7 or above
42% of Barnet's GCSE grades this summer were 7 or above, against 21.8% nationally and 28.6% in London. The provisional figures, A-level update and what comes next.
Roads
Brent Cross Flyover: One Lane Each Way for Up to Two Years
The westbound A406 shuts overnight on 12 and 13 November and Hendon Way on 19 and 20 November. Work then pauses for Christmas, with seven more closures in January.
Transport
West London Orbital: Hendon to Hounslow Line Open to Comment
TfL's West London Orbital would run Overground trains from Hendon via Brent Cross West to Hounslow from around 2035. Comments close 18 November; drop-in dates.
Schools
Woodhouse College New Building Approved: £3m Study Block
Woodhouse College in N12 has permission for a two-storey building with a 130-seat study space and canteen. Its 1,500 students now share about 530 seats.
News update
Schools
Chalgrove Primary Ofsted: Strong in 6 of 7 Areas
Ofsted graded the Finchley school Strong standard in six of seven areas. 86% of its Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.
Environment
Burnt Oak Leisure Centre gets Barnet's first community solar
Barnet's first community solar roof is finished at Burnt Oak Leisure Centre: 220 panels, about £36,000 saved over 20 years, and a share offer next spring.
What's On
Light + Flight: Finchley Lakeside opens free for a festival
Barnet's free Light + Flight festival opens Finchley Lakeside to the public for the first time on 14 and 15 Nov, then moves to the RAF Museum and artsdepot.
Parks
West Hendon Playing Fields gets tennis, 3x3 courts, play area
West Hendon Playing Fields now has two tennis courts, a 3x3 basketball court and a bigger playground. A pitch and cafe could follow if funding is found.
Schools
QE Barnet sports hall plan: 87 support it and 65 object
Queen Elizabeth's four-storey sports hall plan drew 153 comments, 87 in support and 65 against, before consultation closed on 5 November. A decision is due by 21 December.
Housing
Grahame Park: 449 homes and a 21-storey tower, decision due
Barnet Lovell Regeneration has filed detailed plans for the first phase of Grahame Park North East: 449 homes replacing 156, half affordable by habitable room, in blocks of up to 21 storeys. Decision due by 17 December.
Planning
Barnet planning applications: QE sports hall among 57 new
All 57 applications Barnet validated in the week beginning 21 September: QE's sports hall, a Plantagenet Road food hall, seven studios on Friern Barnet Road, plus the Post Office and Grahame Park bids still open.
Business
New Barnet businesses: 57 firms in a month, Indian Ace shuts
57 companies registered at Barnet addresses in a month: a fishmonger for Church Hill Road, a padel firm at Hadley Highstone, a games studio. Indian Ace on Oakleigh Road North is in liquidation.
Planning
Barnet Post Office flats: 2 objections, decision by 9 Nov
Comments closed on turning the former Crown Post Office at 63-65 High Street into nine flats: three received, two of them objections. Decision by 9 November.
Health
Barnet drops 'gap' finding over closed Finchley pharmacy
Barnet said in June the Fairview closure could leave a gap. New analysis says it does not: 71 pharmacies become 70, and no pharmacy nearby opens Sunday.
Council
Barnet ends Capita IT deal, takes service in-house 1 Oct
Barnet is running its own IT from 1 October after a £6.2m contract award was abandoned. Capita's whole IT workforce transfers to the council under TUPE.
Schools
Garden Suburb schools to merge into one primary in January
Garden Suburb Junior closes on 31 December and reopens with the infant school as Garden Suburb Primary on 1 January, with 60 places a year group instead of 90.
Crime
Barnet hate crime up 64% in a quarter, figures show
Police logged 381 hate crime incidents in Barnet in April to June, 64% up on the same quarter last year. Violence, robbery and shoplifting rose too.
Crime
Prevent referrals in Barnet more than double in three months
Barnet made 51 Prevent enquiries in April to June, against 22 a year earlier. Adult cases rose from 6 to 27 and violence-fascination cases from 4 to 22.
Community
Brent Cross Town community fund: £50,000 for Barnet groups
Brent Cross Town's community fund reopened with £50,000 in grants of £3,000 to £10,000 for Barnet projects. Applications close on Monday 26 October.
Council
Barnet orders options appraisal on bin collection frequency
Cabinet ordered the appraisal from the floor on 15 September, after a government review told Barnet to prioritise alternate weekly bins this month.
Council tax
Barnet asks ministers how high it must push council tax
The council puts the gap between what Barnet pays and what the formula assumes at about £74m a year. It is borrowing £79.6m in emergency support this year.
Council
Barnet's 13 parklets to be charged for after petition fails
A 522-name petition to remove the Brent Street parklet was rejected. Instead all 13 parklets across eight town centres get a new licence and a charge.
Housing
Barnet House Prices Down 4.9% Despite Five Months of Rises
The average Barnet home sold for £600,560 in July, down £30,960 on a year. Flats fell 7.0%, and June's figure was revised down by £9,460.
Jobs
Barnet Claimant Count: Under-25s Highest Since 2021
1,710 Barnet residents aged 16 to 24 claimed out-of-work benefits in August, up 95 in a month. The borough total rose 205 to 13,125, still 5.0%.
Sport
Mill Hill Village Cricket Club Wins Four League Titles
Four of Mill Hill Village CC's five Saturday sides won their Herts league divisions in 2026, a year after all five went up. It won a new T20 trophy too.
Council
Barnet Bin Crews Face End of Task and Finish, UNISON Says
Barnet wants bin crews to start and finish at the depot, citing 8 rushing incidents and a serious injury. UNISON has sent 40 questions before it will respond.
Transport
Barnet EV Charging Bays: Five to Go, Object by 15 Oct
Five on-street charging bays would go and one would move, three on Grahame Park Way. Objections close 15 October; Barnet's charger total is already falling.
Licensing
East Barnet Korean Restaurant Applies for Drinks Licence
A Korean restaurant at 35 Church Hill Road wants to sell alcohol with meals until 11pm. Comments close on 29 September, and nobody has written in yet.
Health
North London Hospice Appeal: £2m Left of £10.3m Rebuild
The hospice needs £2m more for its £10.3m Woodside Avenue rebuild. Inpatient beds are at Edgware Community Hospital until the new unit opens in August 2027.
Schools
St James' Catholic High Ofsted: Expected in All 7 Areas
Ofsted graded the Colindale school Expected standard in all seven areas. Its disadvantaged pupils outscored the national average for all pupils at GCSE.
Crime
Finchley Shooting: Man Charged, Old Bailey Trial in 2027
A man arrested in Spain is charged with murder and three firearms counts over the fatal Dale Grove shooting. He is remanded until a trial next June.
Business
Swimming Nature in Administration: Sister Firms Trade On
Administrators took charge of Swimming Nature UK on 19 August and its Finchley Road office has gone. Two sister companies at that address stay active.
Housing
Brent Cross Town: 82 Social Rent Homes, Ready From 2029
SNG has exchanged contracts for 82 social rent homes at Brent Cross Town, residents in from 2029. Barnet lets 650 social homes a year; Band 4 waits 34 years.
Environment
Barnet Flood Alleviation: £1.5m Lyndhurst Park Works
Barnet tendered £1.5m of flood works at Lyndhurst Park and The Meads, with the contract estimated to end 6 October. No contractor is named on the public record.
Planning
Mill Hill 463 Homes: Mayor Takes Over, Comments to 27 Sep
Barnet refused 463 homes at Stoney Wood Quarter on eight grounds. The Mayor took the decision off the council, and comments are open until 27 September.
Licensing
Edgware Gaming Centre Licence: Object by 13 September
East Kent Leasing wants an adult gaming centre licence at 226 Station Road, where an inspector overruled Barnet in 2024. Nobody has objected yet.
Planning
Finchley Garage: Inspector Overrules Barnet, 9 Flats Win
Barnet refused nine flats at Glebe Motors on Glebe Road in May, saying the homes would be substandard. A planning inspector allowed the appeal on 19 August.
Food hygiene
Barnet Food Hygiene: 61% Score 5, 393 Never Inspected
Six in ten Barnet food businesses hold five stars and just two hold zero. But 393 have never been inspected, and 107 carry a rating awarded in 2021 or earlier.
Burnt Oak
Burnt Oak station works start Monday and run 474 days
Barnfield Road's one-way system is suspended from 8am on Monday 31 August for 474 days, for the step-free access build at Burnt Oak station. The council's dates contradict each other.
Council
Barnet told to review council tax and go fortnightly on bins
A government-commissioned review gives Barnet until September to act on council tax and alternate weekly bins. It forecasts the deficit reaching £243.5m by 2030-31.
Finchley
College Farm Finchley reopening: funding deal, 3 hurdles
College Farm has a funding partner after 25 years shut. The Charity Commission inquiry is still open, no planning application is filed, and no sum has been named.
Planning
Finchley shisha lounge: retrospective bid, comment by 24 Sep
A 50-seat shisha lounge with a retractable roof has been built behind 225-229 Regents Park Road without permission. Barnet's site notice runs to 24 September; decision due by 19 October.
Arts
Waylamps of Barnet: where the four new lampposts are
Four sculptural lampposts now stand between Colindale Station and Tally Ho Corner, linked by the 125 bus. Here is where each one is, who it is named after, and where to get the free map.
Council
Barnet bin workers vote 100% to reject holiday pay offer
Every vote cast rejected the council's six-month offer, UNISON says. It now wants a formal strike ballot, and talks with the council are set for 14 September.
Sport
Barnet FC top League Two after 3-1 win at Shrewsbury
Goals from Reeves, Lakin and Knowles put the Bees top on goal difference after two games. Cheltenham visit The Hive on Saturday 29 August, 12.30 kick-off.
Housing
Barnet house prices rise £9,840 in a month to £603,753
Barnet's average sold price rose to £603,753 in June, up £9,840 on May and the biggest monthly rise in eleven months. Still £28,214 below the July 2025 peak.
Charity
Noah's Ark Barnet appeal: every £1 doubled from 1 Sept
Every pound given to the Byng Road children's hospice is matched from 1 September to 10pm on 12 October. Noah's Ark is aiming to raise £1 million.
Parking
Barnet parking changes: 14 junctions, object by 27 August
Barnet wants double yellow lines at 14 junctions, from Denman Drive NW11 to Raydean Road EN5. Objections close on Thursday 27 August, quoting SCR724.
Planning
Barnet housing target: 32,730 homes, the most in London
Barnet has the biggest ten-year housing target of any London borough in the draft plan: 32,730 homes, 7,000 in the Green Belt. Comment by 15 October.
Jobs
Barnet claimant count: 13,185, and a fourfold ward gap
13,185 Barnet residents claimed out-of-work benefits in July, 5.0% of those aged 16 to 64. Cricklewood is on 8.5%, Hampstead Garden Suburb on 2.1%.
Schools
Moss Hall Junior, Finchley: Ofsted strong in all six
Ofsted graded the Nether Street school Strong standard in all six areas of its new report card, from achievement to inclusion. Safeguarding met.
Schools
Barnet Hill Academy: fees dropped, state-funded 1 September
Barnet Council approved the switch on 4 August: the Hendon Islamic primary becomes voluntary aided this September. Fees go, voluntary contributions stay.
Council
Barnet bin and street cleaners ballot for strike action
Depot, bin and street cleaning staff have been voting since 5 August. UNISON says 12 years of holiday pay is owed, about £6m, and that the council has offered £250,000.
Housing
Barnet house prices: £42k off the peak, only Camden fell more
The average Barnet home sold for £590,583 in May 2026, £42,483 below last July's peak and 4.3% down in a year. Only Camden fell further among the neighbours; Haringey and Hertsmere rose.
Education
Barnet A-levels 2026: 40% at A*-A against 28.3% for England
Provisional results from 22 of Barnet's 28 sixth forms: 40% of A-level grades were A* or A, ahead of London (32.7%) and England (28.3%). Why school figures are not comparable, and the 20 August remark deadline.
Health
Finchley Memorial Hospital pharmacy closing 30 Aug: act by 28th
Fairview Pharmacy at Finchley Memorial Hospital shuts for good on Sunday 30 August. Collect prescriptions and re-nominate by Friday 28 August: the last two days are collections only.
Transport
Barnet bus strikes: September and October dates suspended
TfL says the Arriva bus strikes set for September and October were suspended, so routes 34, 102, 221, 307 and SL1 run as normal. No new dates are listed.
What's On
Heritage Open Days Barnet 2026: three churches open free
Barnet has three entries in Heritage Open Days from 11 to 20 September, and 17 of the free tours are at Finchley's oldest building. Dates, times and how to book.
Business
Taste of Raj takeaway company in Edgware enters liquidation
The company behind Taste of Raj on Deansbrook Road went into creditors' voluntary liquidation on 4 August, with Hudson Weir's Kevin Weir appointed liquidator.
Planning
Wren Academy phone mast could rise to 21.35m under new plan
A notification filed on 10 August would extend the 17.4m lattice tower at Wren Academy in North Finchley to 21.35m. Barnet has until 31 August to decide.
Finchley Foodbank
Finchley Foodbank Now Helps With Benefits and Energy Bills
Finchley Foodbank's new Information and Support Service helps clients check benefits, cut energy bills and find work, at its Tuesday and Saturday sessions.
Council
Edmonton Incinerator Deal Puts Barnet's Waste Bill at £31m a Year
Barnet's waste disposal cost is forecast at £31m a year from 2030/31, after the Edmonton incinerator contract rose from £885.1m to £1.25bn. It is £17.1m now.
TfL
High Barnet Station Homes Partner Says It Added £1bn
Places for London, TfL's partner on High Barnet Place and Edgware's Broadwalk scheme, says it added £447m to London in 2025/26 and £1bn since 2023.
Planning
Hertsmere's Local Plan Puts 900 Homes and Two Data Centre Sites Just North of Barnet, and Comments Close on 19 November
Hertsmere plans 16,893 homes by 2041, including 900 south of Potters Bar and a 5,000-home town at Bowmans Cross. Comments close at 11.59pm on 19 November.
News update
Business
A Wood-Fired Sauna With Two Plunge Pools Is Coming to Clitterhouse Playing Fields in Cricklewood
A 16-person wood-fired sauna with two plunge pools is coming to Clitterhouse Playing Fields. Our Yard says it will open Thursday to Sunday, with no date yet.
Travel update
Northern line
Northern line: severe delays after Edgware branch suspension
TfL no longer lists the Camden Town to Edgware suspension. The Northern line still has severe delays, and London Buses accept Tube tickets, TfL says.
Travel update
Northern line
Northern line severe delays continue after Golders Green suspension
TfL now lists severe delays on the Northern line, not a suspension, after an earlier points failure at Mornington Crescent. Buses accept Tube tickets.
Mayor of London
Mayor Takes the ULEZ Disinformation Fight to COP31
65% of Londoners told YouGov there is a lot or a fair amount of climate disinformation on social media. Sadiq Khan takes the ULEZ row to COP31 in Türkiye.
CCTV
Barnet CCTV Grows to 60 Moveable Cameras and 950 Feeds
Barnet Council now has 60 moveable CCTV cameras and 950 live camera feeds. Council papers from 2022 show 127 fixed cameras, only 37 of them then working.
Parks
West Hendon Playing Fields 3G Pitch Will Not Be Decided Before Summer 2027
The floodlit 3G pitch planned for West Hendon Playing Fields will not be decided before summer 2027, because planners want a year of ecology surveys first.
Shopping
Brent South Retail Park Gets a New Sofa Showroom and Stays Open Until at Least 2029
Brent South Retail Park will now trade until at least 2029. TK Maxx and Sofology have renewed, and Darlings of Chelsea takes an empty unit.
Council news
Planning
Barnet Moves to Sell Fairway Playground in Mill Hill for the Stoney Wood Quarter Homes
Barnet Council will advertise the sale of Fairway Playground to the Stoney Wood Quarter developer. Objections will be read before a final decision is made.
Heatwave
Heatwaves Cost London £2.5bn This Summer, City Hall Says
City Hall puts the cost of London's 2026 heatwaves at about £2.5bn in lost work, and over £25bn in ten years if they continue. Sadiq Khan takes it to COP31.
Transport
No Elizabeth Line at Tottenham Court Road on 28 and 29 November
No Elizabeth line trains from Paddington to Abbey Wood, Shenfield or Heathrow on 28 and 29 November. Paddington shuts too, so use the Piccadilly for Heathrow.
Council
Barnet Council Overspent Three Repair Contracts by £932,000
Barnet Council spent £2.11m on three building repair contracts approved for £1.18m. Cabinet is asked on 17 November to sign off the extra £932,000 after the event.
Children
Barnet Has Lost 23 Foster Families in Five Years
Barnet now has 96 foster households, down from 119 in 2021, and more of its children in care live with agency carers than its own. School attendance and jobs are up.
Council
Hendon Hub Regeneration Is Being Scrapped After Middlesex University Pulled Out
Barnet Council is formally closing the Hendon Hub scheme on The Burroughs. Middlesex University withdrew in 2024, and Cabinet is due to decide on 15 December.
Housing
Up to 20 Social Rent Homes Planned on the Former East Barnet Library Site
Barnet Council plans up to 20 social rent homes on the old East Barnet Library site in Brookhill Road. Cabinet takes a key legal step on 17 November.
Fly-tipping
Barnet Fly-Tippers Fined £42,500 After CCTV Pilot
Barnet Council issued £42,500 of fly-tipping fines from April to October using CCTV, with £13,000 paid so far. Each fine is £500, or £600 for a second offence.
Housing
Barnet Started 876 Affordable Homes Last Year as London Beat Its Target
Barnet started 876 affordable homes in 2025-26, second only to Tower Hamlets, as London beat its target with 21,001 starts. City Hall figures, 10 November 2026.
Bins
Barnet Bin Strike Ballot Opens 11 November Over Holiday Pay
Barnet's bin, recycling and street cleaning workers vote on strike action from 11 November to 9 December, UNISON says. No strike dates have been set.
Planning
David Lloyd Finchley Asks to Open From 6am Every Day
David Lloyd Finchley has applied to let members in from 6am every day, an hour earlier on weekdays and two and a half hours earlier on Sundays. Comments close 3 December.
Fostering
Barnet Joins North London Fostering Hub to Find More Carers
Barnet has joined five councils in a new North London Fostering Hub to find carers. Pay is up to £519 a week, and renters and full-time workers can apply.
Air quality
High Air Pollution Alert for Barnet on Tuesday 10 November
City Hall has issued a high air pollution alert for London, Barnet included, for Tuesday 10 November. Fog, fireworks and wood smoke let particles build up.
Transport
Oxford Street Traffic Free: Footfall Up 16% in Week One
Footfall rose 16% and spending 28% in Oxford Street's first traffic-free week, City Hall says. Buses ran well, TfL says, including the four from Barnet.
Remembrance
Barnet Falls Silent: Mayor Leads Remembrance at Hendon
The Mayor of Barnet, Cllr Zahra Beg, laid a wreath at Hendon War Memorial on Remembrance Sunday. Armistice Day follows on 11 November in Friern Barnet.
Council
Barnet Council still needs £73.3m of emergency borrowing
Barnet expects to borrow £73.3m this year to pay for day-to-day services, £6m less than approved. The NHS owes it £7.7m and council tax collection has slipped.
Brent Cross
Brent Cross Town shifts to rentals as home sales stall
A new business plan for Brent Cross Town leans on rented homes, co-living and a data centre. The partners say they cannot take any returns from the scheme for now.
Court
Golders Green Shop Fined Over 17,740 Illegal Cigarettes
Mama Food Store and its director must pay almost £9,500 after Barnet Trading Standards seized 887 packets of illegal cigarettes, some from a safe cut open.
Bins
Timed bin bag collections planned for seven Barnet town centres
Barnet Council wants timed bin bag collections in seven town centres, including High Barnet and North Finchley. Councillors discuss the plan on Monday 9 November.
Fly-tipping
Barnet fly-tipping rises 22%, and Cricklewood is worst hit
Recorded fly-tipping in Barnet was 22% higher from April to July than a year earlier. Four wards, led by Cricklewood, each logged more than 1,000 in a year.
Remembrance
City Hall Remembers the Somme, 110 Years On, Before Barnet's Sunday
The Mayor of London laid a wreath at City Hall on Friday for the Somme, the Gulf War, Bosnia and Iraq. Barnet's own 16 services are on Sunday 8 November.
Community
Barnet Groups Can Bid for Waste Grants of Up to £20,000
Barnet community groups can now apply for waste-cutting grants of up to £20,000 from a £250,000 pot. Applications close on 16 February 2027.
Transport
Night Tube Turns 10 With 12 Barnet Stations on the Route
Twelve Barnet stations are on the Night Tube, now 10 years old, and High Barnet is 33 minutes from Leicester Square at 2.41am. Checked November 2026.
Crime
Barnet Knife Crime Up 22%, the Biggest Rise in London
Barnet recorded 408 knife crime offences in the year to August, up 22% while London fell 9.7%. Figures for all 24 wards are here. Checked November 2026.
Transport
Oxford Street Traffic Free: What Changes for Barnet Buses
The 13, 113, 139 and 189 from Barnet now use stops off Oxford Street's closed stretch, and the Northern line still gets you there. Checked November 2026.
Transport
Only 3.7% of Barnet Residents Live Near a Main Cycle Route
Only 3.7% of Barnet residents live within 400 metres of London's strategic cycle network, against 45.9% in Enfield. Figures checked November 2026.
London Assembly
Assembly Backs Jewish Londoners 19 to 3 in Eight Motions
The London Assembly voted 19 to 3 to stand with Jewish Londoners and 20 to 1 for Grenfell justice on 5 November. Here is what all eight motions ask for.
Community
Barnet Freedom of Borough: Hatzola, CST and Shomrim Honoured
Five Jewish volunteer and security groups now hold Barnet's highest honour, marked at Hendon Town Hall on Monday. Why each was chosen, and what they said.
What's on
Holocaust Rescue Exhibition at Barnet Library to 14 December
Between Life and Death is at Chipping Barnet Library until 14 December, telling rescue stories from 15 countries. Staffed hours, the address and what it shows.
Council
Barnet Social Care Under CQC Assessment: 138 Complaints
The CQC has begun a 19-week assessment of Barnet's adult social care. Council papers also show 138 complaints, two care homes closing and staffing risks.
Business
La Brioche Hendon Bakery Placed Into Liquidation
The company behind La Brioche on Brent Street, Hendon, has appointed a liquidator, Gazette notices show. Who creditors should call, and what is not yet known.
Cost of living
Barnet Not Yet in City Hall's £4.7m Family Advice Scheme
Barnet is not yet in City Hall's family benefits scheme, but Citizens Advice runs free drop-ins at four libraries this month. Checked November 2026.
London Assembly
No Vaping Figures for Barnet's Children, City Hall Hears
Vaping rates are not collected by borough, the Assembly heard on 4 November, so no one can say how many Barnet children vape. Shop licences are on the way.
Roads
Barnet Road Repairs 2027: £18.8m Plan, £103m Backlog
Barnet plans £18.75m of road and pavement repairs in 2027-28, with more for footways. Fixing every worn road would cost £103m. Councillors see it on 9 November.
Schools
Barnet SEND Budget Heads for £17.2m Overspend This Year
Barnet's SEND budget is forecast £17.2m over, wiping out its schools reserve. 42 of its 71 council-run primary schools expect to end the year in deficit.
Licensing
Mayor Gets Final Say on Big Barnet Licensing Cases
From 3 November Sadiq Khan can call in licensing bids for large venues, live music, later hours and festivals after Barnet's decision, and make the final call.
Transport
TfL Fare Dodger Crackdown: 24 Arrests in First Month
Plain-clothes police and TfL inspectors stopped 467 people and made 24 arrests in Operation Vector's first month. What it means at Barnet's Tube stations.
Transport
West London Orbital Named in Budget as a New Levy Target
The Budget names the Hendon-to-Hounslow West London Orbital as a line a new London business rates levy could help pay for. TfL drop-ins: Brent Cross West 3 Nov, Hendon 5 Nov.
Roads
Exeter Road No Right Turn: 804 Sign Petition to End Trial
804 people signed the petition to end Barnet's peak-hour no right turn into Exeter Road, N14, which closes today. That is enough to go to a council committee. How to object by January.
Housing
Barnet Council at Fault: 19 Months in Unsuitable Housing
The Ombudsman found Barnet Council at fault for leaving a wheelchair user in temporary housing it had judged unsuitable for 19 months. It must pay £100 a month, £1,900.
Food hygiene
Barnet Food Hygiene: Three Rated 1, Rugby Club Off Zero
Three Barnet food businesses were rated 1 and ten rated 2 in late September inspections. Hendon Rugby Club climbed from zero to three. All 83 new ratings, by score.
Housing
Barnet Council Tenants Face New Management Fee of Up to 15%
Barnet council tenants face a new management fee of up to 15% on service charges from April 2027. Consultation runs from 2 November to 18 December.
News update
Golders Green
Kosher Kingdom Golders Green Hours: 7am, Late Wed and Thu
Kosher Kingdom is open at 217-219 Golders Green Road, 7am to 10pm Sun-Tue and to midnight Wed-Thu. This week's Shabbat hours and loyalty card details.
Cost of living
Barnet £100 Energy Payment: Only 53% of Homes Qualify
About 85,000 Barnet homes are in council tax bands A to D, 53% of the borough against 81% in England. Who gets the Budget's £100 from January and how.
Council
Barnet Declares a Gambling Harms Emergency: What Changes
Full Council carried the gambling harms emergency on 20 October with 30 votes in favour. What it commits Barnet to, and the slots hearings on 3 November.
Council
Barnet Votes 29 to 1 to Explore Twinning With Haifa
Full Council backed talks on a Haifa twinning 29 to 1 on 20 October, with Labour abstaining. How every motion went, from antisemitism to the London Plan.
Council tax
Barnet Signs Council Tax Protocol: Earlier Help on Arrears
Barnet Council signed the Citizens Advice Council Tax Protocol on 29 October, promising earlier contact and fairer arrears handling for struggling residents.
Licensing
Golders Green and Edgware Slots Licences Go to Hearing
Merkur Slots on Finchley Road and Palace Amusements on Edgware's Station Road face Barnet licensing hearings on 3 November after Public Health objected.
Planning
East Finchley Nursery Play Area Approved Unanimously
Councillors approved the Langley House nursery play area unanimously on 28 October, overturning officers. The High Barnet care home extension was approved too.
Fire
Fire Brigade Asks for £10m Security Cash After Hatzola Arson
Assembly members want the Government to give London Fire Brigade £10m for national security work, after the arson attacks on London's Jewish community.
Charity
Trent Park Wildlife Centre Needs £40,000 to Stay Open
The wildlife rescue at Trent Park, just over the Enfield border from East Barnet, says it needs £40,000 to keep going. A local appeal has raised £12,295 so far.
Pubs
Sebright Arms reopens in High Barnet under local owners
The Sebright Arms on Alston Road reopened on 22 October under two local residents. A family-first refit is due in 2027, and they want your ideas first.
Community
Barnet Community Projects Gets £13,098 Asda Grant
Barnet Community Projects won £13,098 from the Asda Foundation for new facilities, one of 73 groups picked from 749 bids for the Local Community Spaces Fund.
Jobs
Barnet Claimant Count Up 370 to 13,230 in September
13,230 Barnet residents claimed out-of-work benefits in September, up 370 in a month, the biggest rise since February 2025. Cricklewood is highest at 8.6%.
Planning
Golders Green Slots Centre Refused 7-0, Against Officers
Barnet councillors refused the Merkur Slots gaming centre at 867 Finchley Road 7 votes to 0, overturning officers' advice. The 130-room Hotel Unique scheme was approved.
Council
Barnet Group Strike 27 October: Housing and Care Staff Out
UNISON members at Barnet Homes and Your Choice Barnet will strike for 24 hours on Tuesday 27 October. Bin crews could follow before Christmas in a pay row.
Court
Hendon shop pays £10,144 for selling knife to 15-year-olds
Pound Island on Vivian Avenue sold a kitchen knife to two 15-year-old police cadets with no ID check. The council's prosecution ended in £10,144 of penalties.
Planning
Finchley Golf Club padel plan: floodlit courts until 10pm
Finchley Golf Club wants two floodlit padel courts in its Frith Lane car park, open 7am to 10pm in summer. Comments close 5 November; the noise report inside.
Schools
Ark Pioneer's first sixth form: 42% go to Russell Group
42% of Ark Pioneer Academy's first sixth form leavers went to Russell Group universities. A-level grades by subject, and the 22 October open evening.
Charity
Noah's Ark Barnet appeal hits £1.27m from 1,766 donors
Noah's Ark Children's Hospice in Barnet beat its £1 million From That Moment target early. The appeal page showed £1,273,098 from 1,766 donors after it closed.
Business
Council-owned estate agent Bumblebee opens in New Barnet
Bumblebee Property, owned through Barnet Council, has opened its first shop at 26 East Barnet Road. Its fees, hours and £40,000 empty-homes grant link.
Planning
Golders Green Hotel Unique: 130-Room Plan Approved 8-0
Barnet's Planning Committee approved a 114-room new hotel behind the Refectory pub on Finchley Road, plus 16 rooms in the existing building, by 8 votes to 0 on 14 October.
Planning
Golders Green Slots Plan: 30 Objections, Then Refused 7-0
Merkur Slots wanted a 7am to midnight gaming centre at 867 Finchley Road. Officers backed it despite 30 objections; councillors refused it 7 votes to 0 on 14 October.
Schools
Barnet SEND Plan Approved: 189 New Special School Places
Government has signed off Barnet's SEND and Alternative Provision Reform Plan. It funds 189 new specialist places in 2026/27, a £3.19m support programme and a £5.6m capital signal, with 5,044 children on EHCPs.
Council
Barnet Council: £200m plan approved, Full Council on 20 Oct
Cabinet approved the £200m savings plan and a £3.5m drug treatment top-up on 12 October. Full Council then debates eight motions, including gambling harms.
Food hygiene
Barnet Hygiene Ratings: 34 New Fives, Two Twos in September
Every Barnet food hygiene rating published since 12 September is a five, from the Black Horse in Wood Street to Odos on the High Street. Two September inspections scored a two: SOYO in Golders Green and Woodhouse Tandoori.
Environment
Barnet Climate Action Week: Free Repair Record Bid Saturday
Free repairs for broken kettles, bikes and clothes at Cultivate Colindale on Saturday 10 October, 11am to 3pm, in a London record bid. 17 events to 18 October.
Housing
Barnet's 5,361 Empty Homes: Council Checks 100 in One Night
Barnet has 5,361 homes empty for over six months as 3,000+ households live in temporary accommodation. Owners face up to 300% council tax; grants reach £40,000.
Council
Barnet Council's Colindale HQ needs 2 years of fire repairs
Barnet's 2019 Colindale offices have fire safety defects. Repairs run November 2026 to November 2028; Cabinet approved £770,136 of oversight on 12 October.
Council
Barnet Finance Chief Anisa Darr to Leave in December
Anisa Darr, Barnet's finance director and Section 151 officer since 2017, leaves in December. Two new assistant director posts follow, one at about £150,000.
Housing
Barnet HMO checks: 22 of 76 homes face licence investigation
One evening of Barnet Council HMO checks led to 22 investigations over missing licences. £187,000 in HMO fines so far this year; visits go on for 12 months.
Council finances
Barnet's £200m budget plan approved; tax rise not yet agreed
Cabinet approved Barnet's £200m savings plan on 12 October. £70m of it relies on a council tax rise above the 5% cap, which still needs government agreement.
Schools
Queen Elizabeth's School Ofsted: Exceptional in all 7 areas
Queen Elizabeth's School in Barnet is rated Exceptional, Ofsted's new top grade, in all seven areas of its first report card. What inspectors found, and the full report.
Schools
Barnet GCSE results 2026: 42% of grades at 7 or above
42% of Barnet's GCSE grades this summer were 7 or above, against 21.8% nationally and 28.6% in London. The provisional figures, A-level update and what comes next.
Roads
Brent Cross Flyover: One Lane Each Way for Up to Two Years
The westbound A406 shuts overnight on 12 and 13 November and Hendon Way on 19 and 20 November. Work then pauses for Christmas, with seven more closures in January.
Transport
West London Orbital: Hendon to Hounslow Line Open to Comment
TfL's West London Orbital would run Overground trains from Hendon via Brent Cross West to Hounslow from around 2035. Comments close 18 November; drop-in dates.
Schools
Woodhouse College New Building Approved: £3m Study Block
Woodhouse College in N12 has permission for a two-storey building with a 130-seat study space and canteen. Its 1,500 students now share about 530 seats.
News update
Schools
Chalgrove Primary Ofsted: Strong in 6 of 7 Areas
Ofsted graded the Finchley school Strong standard in six of seven areas. 86% of its Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.
Environment
Burnt Oak Leisure Centre gets Barnet's first community solar
Barnet's first community solar roof is finished at Burnt Oak Leisure Centre: 220 panels, about £36,000 saved over 20 years, and a share offer next spring.
What's On
Light + Flight: Finchley Lakeside opens free for a festival
Barnet's free Light + Flight festival opens Finchley Lakeside to the public for the first time on 14 and 15 Nov, then moves to the RAF Museum and artsdepot.
Parks
West Hendon Playing Fields gets tennis, 3x3 courts, play area
West Hendon Playing Fields now has two tennis courts, a 3x3 basketball court and a bigger playground. A pitch and cafe could follow if funding is found.
Schools
QE Barnet sports hall plan: 87 support it and 65 object
Queen Elizabeth's four-storey sports hall plan drew 153 comments, 87 in support and 65 against, before consultation closed on 5 November. A decision is due by 21 December.
Housing
Grahame Park: 449 homes and a 21-storey tower, decision due
Barnet Lovell Regeneration has filed detailed plans for the first phase of Grahame Park North East: 449 homes replacing 156, half affordable by habitable room, in blocks of up to 21 storeys. Decision due by 17 December.
Planning
Barnet planning applications: QE sports hall among 57 new
All 57 applications Barnet validated in the week beginning 21 September: QE's sports hall, a Plantagenet Road food hall, seven studios on Friern Barnet Road, plus the Post Office and Grahame Park bids still open.
Business
New Barnet businesses: 57 firms in a month, Indian Ace shuts
57 companies registered at Barnet addresses in a month: a fishmonger for Church Hill Road, a padel firm at Hadley Highstone, a games studio. Indian Ace on Oakleigh Road North is in liquidation.
Planning
Barnet Post Office flats: 2 objections, decision by 9 Nov
Comments closed on turning the former Crown Post Office at 63-65 High Street into nine flats: three received, two of them objections. Decision by 9 November.
Health
Barnet drops 'gap' finding over closed Finchley pharmacy
Barnet said in June the Fairview closure could leave a gap. New analysis says it does not: 71 pharmacies become 70, and no pharmacy nearby opens Sunday.
Council
Barnet ends Capita IT deal, takes service in-house 1 Oct
Barnet is running its own IT from 1 October after a £6.2m contract award was abandoned. Capita's whole IT workforce transfers to the council under TUPE.
Schools
Garden Suburb schools to merge into one primary in January
Garden Suburb Junior closes on 31 December and reopens with the infant school as Garden Suburb Primary on 1 January, with 60 places a year group instead of 90.
Crime
Barnet hate crime up 64% in a quarter, figures show
Police logged 381 hate crime incidents in Barnet in April to June, 64% up on the same quarter last year. Violence, robbery and shoplifting rose too.
Crime
Prevent referrals in Barnet more than double in three months
Barnet made 51 Prevent enquiries in April to June, against 22 a year earlier. Adult cases rose from 6 to 27 and violence-fascination cases from 4 to 22.
Community
Brent Cross Town community fund: £50,000 for Barnet groups
Brent Cross Town's community fund reopened with £50,000 in grants of £3,000 to £10,000 for Barnet projects. Applications close on Monday 26 October.
Council
Barnet orders options appraisal on bin collection frequency
Cabinet ordered the appraisal from the floor on 15 September, after a government review told Barnet to prioritise alternate weekly bins this month.
Council tax
Barnet asks ministers how high it must push council tax
The council puts the gap between what Barnet pays and what the formula assumes at about £74m a year. It is borrowing £79.6m in emergency support this year.
Council
Barnet's 13 parklets to be charged for after petition fails
A 522-name petition to remove the Brent Street parklet was rejected. Instead all 13 parklets across eight town centres get a new licence and a charge.
Housing
Barnet House Prices Down 4.9% Despite Five Months of Rises
The average Barnet home sold for £600,560 in July, down £30,960 on a year. Flats fell 7.0%, and June's figure was revised down by £9,460.
Jobs
Barnet Claimant Count: Under-25s Highest Since 2021
1,710 Barnet residents aged 16 to 24 claimed out-of-work benefits in August, up 95 in a month. The borough total rose 205 to 13,125, still 5.0%.
Sport
Mill Hill Village Cricket Club Wins Four League Titles
Four of Mill Hill Village CC's five Saturday sides won their Herts league divisions in 2026, a year after all five went up. It won a new T20 trophy too.
Council
Barnet Bin Crews Face End of Task and Finish, UNISON Says
Barnet wants bin crews to start and finish at the depot, citing 8 rushing incidents and a serious injury. UNISON has sent 40 questions before it will respond.
Transport
Barnet EV Charging Bays: Five to Go, Object by 15 Oct
Five on-street charging bays would go and one would move, three on Grahame Park Way. Objections close 15 October; Barnet's charger total is already falling.
Licensing
East Barnet Korean Restaurant Applies for Drinks Licence
A Korean restaurant at 35 Church Hill Road wants to sell alcohol with meals until 11pm. Comments close on 29 September, and nobody has written in yet.
Health
North London Hospice Appeal: £2m Left of £10.3m Rebuild
The hospice needs £2m more for its £10.3m Woodside Avenue rebuild. Inpatient beds are at Edgware Community Hospital until the new unit opens in August 2027.
Schools
St James' Catholic High Ofsted: Expected in All 7 Areas
Ofsted graded the Colindale school Expected standard in all seven areas. Its disadvantaged pupils outscored the national average for all pupils at GCSE.
Crime
Finchley Shooting: Man Charged, Old Bailey Trial in 2027
A man arrested in Spain is charged with murder and three firearms counts over the fatal Dale Grove shooting. He is remanded until a trial next June.
Business
Swimming Nature in Administration: Sister Firms Trade On
Administrators took charge of Swimming Nature UK on 19 August and its Finchley Road office has gone. Two sister companies at that address stay active.
Housing
Brent Cross Town: 82 Social Rent Homes, Ready From 2029
SNG has exchanged contracts for 82 social rent homes at Brent Cross Town, residents in from 2029. Barnet lets 650 social homes a year; Band 4 waits 34 years.
Environment
Barnet Flood Alleviation: £1.5m Lyndhurst Park Works
Barnet tendered £1.5m of flood works at Lyndhurst Park and The Meads, with the contract estimated to end 6 October. No contractor is named on the public record.
Planning
Mill Hill 463 Homes: Mayor Takes Over, Comments to 27 Sep
Barnet refused 463 homes at Stoney Wood Quarter on eight grounds. The Mayor took the decision off the council, and comments are open until 27 September.
Licensing
Edgware Gaming Centre Licence: Object by 13 September
East Kent Leasing wants an adult gaming centre licence at 226 Station Road, where an inspector overruled Barnet in 2024. Nobody has objected yet.
Planning
Finchley Garage: Inspector Overrules Barnet, 9 Flats Win
Barnet refused nine flats at Glebe Motors on Glebe Road in May, saying the homes would be substandard. A planning inspector allowed the appeal on 19 August.
Food hygiene
Barnet Food Hygiene: 61% Score 5, 393 Never Inspected
Six in ten Barnet food businesses hold five stars and just two hold zero. But 393 have never been inspected, and 107 carry a rating awarded in 2021 or earlier.
Burnt Oak
Burnt Oak station works start Monday and run 474 days
Barnfield Road's one-way system is suspended from 8am on Monday 31 August for 474 days, for the step-free access build at Burnt Oak station. The council's dates contradict each other.
Council
Barnet told to review council tax and go fortnightly on bins
A government-commissioned review gives Barnet until September to act on council tax and alternate weekly bins. It forecasts the deficit reaching £243.5m by 2030-31.
Finchley
College Farm Finchley reopening: funding deal, 3 hurdles
College Farm has a funding partner after 25 years shut. The Charity Commission inquiry is still open, no planning application is filed, and no sum has been named.
Planning
Finchley shisha lounge: retrospective bid, comment by 24 Sep
A 50-seat shisha lounge with a retractable roof has been built behind 225-229 Regents Park Road without permission. Barnet's site notice runs to 24 September; decision due by 19 October.
Arts
Waylamps of Barnet: where the four new lampposts are
Four sculptural lampposts now stand between Colindale Station and Tally Ho Corner, linked by the 125 bus. Here is where each one is, who it is named after, and where to get the free map.
Council
Barnet bin workers vote 100% to reject holiday pay offer
Every vote cast rejected the council's six-month offer, UNISON says. It now wants a formal strike ballot, and talks with the council are set for 14 September.
Sport
Barnet FC top League Two after 3-1 win at Shrewsbury
Goals from Reeves, Lakin and Knowles put the Bees top on goal difference after two games. Cheltenham visit The Hive on Saturday 29 August, 12.30 kick-off.
Housing
Barnet house prices rise £9,840 in a month to £603,753
Barnet's average sold price rose to £603,753 in June, up £9,840 on May and the biggest monthly rise in eleven months. Still £28,214 below the July 2025 peak.
Charity
Noah's Ark Barnet appeal: every £1 doubled from 1 Sept
Every pound given to the Byng Road children's hospice is matched from 1 September to 10pm on 12 October. Noah's Ark is aiming to raise £1 million.
Parking
Barnet parking changes: 14 junctions, object by 27 August
Barnet wants double yellow lines at 14 junctions, from Denman Drive NW11 to Raydean Road EN5. Objections close on Thursday 27 August, quoting SCR724.
Planning
Barnet housing target: 32,730 homes, the most in London
Barnet has the biggest ten-year housing target of any London borough in the draft plan: 32,730 homes, 7,000 in the Green Belt. Comment by 15 October.
Jobs
Barnet claimant count: 13,185, and a fourfold ward gap
13,185 Barnet residents claimed out-of-work benefits in July, 5.0% of those aged 16 to 64. Cricklewood is on 8.5%, Hampstead Garden Suburb on 2.1%.
Schools
Moss Hall Junior, Finchley: Ofsted strong in all six
Ofsted graded the Nether Street school Strong standard in all six areas of its new report card, from achievement to inclusion. Safeguarding met.
Schools
Barnet Hill Academy: fees dropped, state-funded 1 September
Barnet Council approved the switch on 4 August: the Hendon Islamic primary becomes voluntary aided this September. Fees go, voluntary contributions stay.
Council
Barnet bin and street cleaners ballot for strike action
Depot, bin and street cleaning staff have been voting since 5 August. UNISON says 12 years of holiday pay is owed, about £6m, and that the council has offered £250,000.
Housing
Barnet house prices: £42k off the peak, only Camden fell more
The average Barnet home sold for £590,583 in May 2026, £42,483 below last July's peak and 4.3% down in a year. Only Camden fell further among the neighbours; Haringey and Hertsmere rose.
Education
Barnet A-levels 2026: 40% at A*-A against 28.3% for England
Provisional results from 22 of Barnet's 28 sixth forms: 40% of A-level grades were A* or A, ahead of London (32.7%) and England (28.3%). Why school figures are not comparable, and the 20 August remark deadline.
Health
Finchley Memorial Hospital pharmacy closing 30 Aug: act by 28th
Fairview Pharmacy at Finchley Memorial Hospital shuts for good on Sunday 30 August. Collect prescriptions and re-nominate by Friday 28 August: the last two days are collections only.
Transport
Barnet bus strikes: September and October dates suspended
TfL says the Arriva bus strikes set for September and October were suspended, so routes 34, 102, 221, 307 and SL1 run as normal. No new dates are listed.
What's On
Heritage Open Days Barnet 2026: three churches open free
Barnet has three entries in Heritage Open Days from 11 to 20 September, and 17 of the free tours are at Finchley's oldest building. Dates, times and how to book.
Business
Taste of Raj takeaway company in Edgware enters liquidation
The company behind Taste of Raj on Deansbrook Road went into creditors' voluntary liquidation on 4 August, with Hudson Weir's Kevin Weir appointed liquidator.
Planning
Wren Academy phone mast could rise to 21.35m under new plan
A notification filed on 10 August would extend the 17.4m lattice tower at Wren Academy in North Finchley to 21.35m. Barnet has until 31 August to decide.