BURNT OAK has been chosen as the location for a new £6 million youth centre.

Barnet Council’s assets, regeneration and growth committee agreed last Monday (November 30) to develop the OnSide Youth Zone on Montrose Playing Fields, subject to planning permission.

Developed in partnership with youth charity OnSide, the centre will offer more than 20 activities each night for young people aged eight to 19, or up to 25 for those with a disability.

It comes after the committee voted unanimously in support of the plans in September.

The authority will spend up to £4.2 million on developing the centre, which will come from its infrastructure reserves and cash received from developers.

OnSide will provide £1.8m, and has pledged a further £3m to run the centre over three years, and to create about 50 full and part-time jobs.

The site was chosen due to its proximity to Burnt Oak and Colindale, and after the council received positive feedback from youths in Grahame Park.

Further consultation with young people is planned to make sure they are involved in the development of the project, the council says.

Deputy leader of Barnet Council Councillor Daniel Thomas said: “The choice of Montrose Playing Fields as the site for the new youth zone moves this exciting project one step on.

“I am confident it will offer young people a fantastic opportunity to take part in a range of activities that will complement the services we already provide.”

Keith Black, chairman of the new OnSide Youth Zone, said it was the “perfect location to engage as many young people as possible”.

He added: “We have every confidence that this offer for young people will provide a transformational experience, supporting and enhancing the current youth provision in the community.”