Barnet New Economic Development Framework: Have your say
Barnet Council is developing 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
Phase one – engagement
In the first phase, we have responded to comments and ideas from residents, businesses, communities and economic partners. Their feedback along with economic data and economic priorities from Barnet, London and the UK, helped shaped the draft Economic Development Framework. You can view the results from phase one here.
Phase two – consultation
We now want to hear your views on this draft framework and if you feel that it responds to what you told us in phase one.
Why are we doing this now?
This Economic Development Framework aims to build on Barnet’s economic strengths, address its weaknesses, respond to the needs and priorities of residents, businesses and communities, and complement sub-regional, London and national goals. These the common objectives across many economic development frameworks and strategies, so what’s different in Barnet this time?
- Barnet has attracted significant investment that has helped deliver new homes, amenities and infrastructure, and we need to continue to attract investment at scale to ensure the economy can generate local opportunities for more people.
- Barnet’s priorities such as addressing inequalities, reducing poverty, improving health and wellbeing, making safer and more attractive places, reaching net zero carbon, and improving access to services are driving our agenda.
- Long-term post-pandemic and cost-of-living challenges are still affecting residents and businesses, increasing inequalities.
- Linked to these challenges is the change to London’s economy and Barnet’s contribution to it. There is a growing emphasis on local economic development and supporting local cultural identities across the capital, not just providing central London with a workforce.
- We have a deeper understanding of what growth and investment means to Barnet residents, businesses and communities and how their impact isn’t always evenly felt across the borough.
How to have your say
We want to hear from residents, businesses, community groups, students and workers in Barnet. Share your views and ideas by completing our online questionnaire below.
For any queries, including technical ones, please email barnetbusiness@barnet.gov.uk, writing ‘Economic Development Framework’ in the subject line, or telephone 07568 605608.
What happens after the consultation closes?
The data from the questionnaire will inform the final draft of the new Economic Development Framework, which will be presented to Cabinet for the council to consider for adoption.
In November 2025, we will publish this information as part of the publication of the framework to show how your input has helped shape it.
