The stage is set to start work on phase 1 of the exciting development at the 44-acre Prince Edward Playing Fields site in Edgware - subject to Football Foundation approval.

Barnet FC are pleased to announce that the club's financial contribution to the project is in place, legal contracts with Harrow Council have been finalised, planning permission obtained and the scope of works agreed with the council and contractors.

The builders say that the £3 million phase 1 of the project will provide some of the best training and community use facilities in the country. These initial works include two full size FIFA approved 3rd Generation artificial pitches, floodlighting, four junior grass pitches, four youth pitches, a senior grass training area the size of three football pitches, car and coach parking, changing facilities for 14 teams and officials, and also a reception and café area for parents and site visitors.

The builders are ready to start and work could be completed in 22 weeks from the Football Foundation, who have been involved with the project since its inception, giving the green light. The Phase 1 plans can be viewed on barnetfc.com by clicking HERE and HERE.

The PEPF site, which is a few miles from Underhill and situated between Camrose Avenue and Whitchurch Lane, Edgware, is served by three Tube stations, Edgware, Queensbury and Canons Park Underground Station, which is directly adjacent to the site, as well as a number of bus routes. Facilities will also be provided to encourage people to cycle to and from the site.

The development will provide much needed sporting amenities for the community in the Borough of Harrow and the council have specified an impressive programme of activities ranging from disabled coaching, referees courses, youth training programmes, girls and ladies' football and a whole host of other coaching and training initiatives. There will also be substantial discounts for use by recognised community sports groups and schools within the Borough.

David Ashton, leader of Harrow Council, said: "The announcement of this development is great news. Harrow as a borough is committed to sports opportunities and the Prince Edward Playing Fields site will, I am sure, become a regular fixture for up-and-coming football talent."

Councillor Chris Mote, portfolio holder for community and cultural services, said: "It is great to have a club of Barnet FC's stature as a partner in this exciting venture. This facility will provide superb training in a structured way for young people across Harrow."

As well as all the above, the site will provide high standard training facilities for Barnet manager Paul Fairclough, who is also the England C team manager, Barnet Ladies, Barnet Youth, Wealdstone FC and other local teams in the borough of Harrow.

A switch to PEPF will end the nomadic roaming around training pitches in Hertfordshire in recent years for the Barnet players and importantly will provide a home for the club's new boys' Centre of Excellence and girls Football Development Centre for the highly successful Barnet Ladies team, who have won a number of honours under the guidance of manager Tracy Kevins, who is also the England under-19s assistant manager and one of only a handful of female qualified coaching A licence holders.

Bees chairman Tony Kleanthous said: "This is a wonderful opportunity for Barnet FC and Harrow Council and is the culmination of nearly three years of hard work for us to get everything in place. Credit must go to them for acting with understanding, patience and professionalism throughout and we thank the councillors of Harrow for supporting us in this venture.

"This site will give our club a home from which to base our coaching and training operations. However, my work is not done and we will continue to seek the holy grail of a new stadium for Barnet FC which will lead us into the 21st century.

"I want to continue the excellent progress we have made in rebuilding our relationship with Barnet Council under leader Mike Freer and hopefully we will be able to identify somewhere that we can relocate to in the borough and establish the new home and venue our supporters deserve".

Dennis Signy