Economic Development Framework engagement - Phase 1

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This engagement has closed.

Help us develop a New Economic Development Framework for Barnet


We are creating a new Economic Development Framework to respond to Barnet’s current economic strengths and weaknesses, aiming to shape the borough’s future economy.

This framework will create a set of guiding principles and action plans focusing on:

  • Job creation, training and skills opportunities for residents
  • Support for local businesses and entrepreneurs
  • Physical and policy changes to our town centres and employment spaces
  • Allocation of economic funding and resources

To create a framework fit for Barnet’s needs, we want to hear the views and ideas of residents, local business owners

Help us develop a New Economic Development Framework for Barnet


We are creating a new Economic Development Framework to respond to Barnet’s current economic strengths and weaknesses, aiming to shape the borough’s future economy.

This framework will create a set of guiding principles and action plans focusing on:

  • Job creation, training and skills opportunities for residents
  • Support for local businesses and entrepreneurs
  • Physical and policy changes to our town centres and employment spaces
  • Allocation of economic funding and resources

To create a framework fit for Barnet’s needs, we want to hear the views and ideas of residents, local business owners and workers, students, visitors and community groups.

What makes up Barnet’s economy? 

Barnet’s economy is made up of many elements:

  • People, skills and employers - Jobs and workers; skills, schools, education and students; businesses and entrepreneurs; charities and the voluntary sector; events and culture; networks, town teams and business associations.
  • Places and services - Town centres and high streets; workspaces and studios; homes; libraries, community centres and neighbourhoods; markets and street traders; parks and greenspaces; transport and accessibility; connectivity and internet; health and social care; inward investment; the council and more.

 Why are we doing this now? 

Barnet’s Growth Strategy 2020-2030 was written before the pandemic and the current cost of living crisis. Our Plan for Barnet 2023-2026 has introduced new priorities including reducing poverty, ensuring that residents benefit from growth in the borough, delivering safe and attractive neighbourhoods, our journey to net zero and improving access to the council’s services.

Barnet wants to refresh its economic development strategy with a new framework that responds to current and future challenges and opportunities and aligns with the priorities outlined in Our Plan for Barnet.

We want to hear from you, on your challenges, priorities and ideas on how the council can better support the local economy and attract more people and businesses to Barnet.

This engagement has closed.

  • We asked, you said, we did

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    We asked

    Barnet wants to refresh its economic development strategy with a new framework that responds to current and future challenges and opportunities and aligns with the priorities outlined in Our Plan for Barnet.

    We wanted to hear from residents, businesses and communities on your challenges, priorities and ideas on how the council can better support the local economy and attract more people and businesses to Barnet.


    You said

    During public engagement (8 July to 18 August 2024) we had 770 page views and 512 unique visitors to our Engage Barnet page. 50+ people attended one of seven workshops (three for residents and businesses, two for young people (Barnet Youth Board), two for voluntary sector. Further engagement was held with council services, strategic partners and key business sectors such as arts and culture, construction and health and social care.

    A questionnaire attracted 106 responses (random sample) with responses from residents (78%), business owners (7%), workers (7%) and charities (5%).

    Engagement comments were grouped thematically and ranked by frequency. Our findings:

    Barnet’s strengths to build on:

    • Diversity: of businesses and people in the borough
    • Businesses: local and independent
    • Green: lots of space and parks
    • Community: spirit and participation
    • Education: strong schools and highly educated residents
    • Transport: connectivity into central London

    Barnet’s weaknesses to address:

    • Infrastructure: lack of investment, potholes

    • Shops: low quality and few independents

    • Transport: moving across the borough, inconvenient

    • High street: cluttered and unattractive, greedy landlords

    • Workspace: offices disappearing for homes

    • Poverty: pockets of deprivation, run down neighbourhoods

    • Connectivity: Wi-Fi and mobile coverage

    • Council: comms not reaching people, website hard to use

    • Young people: few leisure choices or career development options


    We did

    We are drafting an economic development framework (EDF) for the next five years that responds to these comments and the economic evidence base that illustrates Barnet’s economic strengths and weaknesses.

    Barnet’s economy is affected by London and the UK and vice versa. A London Growth Plan is due for publication in 2025 and UK Government strategies on key business sectors and on welfare, skills and employment reform are all being developed. Barnet inputs into to these initiatives, contributing intelligence from engagement completed above. The EDF will take London and national needs and priorities into account in its content.

    The EDF will also meet Barnet Council’s corporate ambitions of tackling inequalities and reducing poverty, growing local wealth. These priorities are informed by a better understanding of how growth is experienced in the borough and its effect on residents, businesses and communities.

    This is why community wealth building is central. We’ll focus on those most in need, least well served by the economy. The council can’t do this work alone. Its approach is to work in partnership to have impact at scale and pace.

    The council will use its unique position to bring this about, but this is an economic development framework for the borough and all its economic stakeholders to deliver together.

    We will consult on a revised Economic Development Framework in March 2025 and it is expected to go to Cabinet in Summer 2025 for public scrutiny.