Barnet FC has said it is “extremely disappointed” that its plans to return to its home borough were rejected.
Barnet Council voted against plans for a new 7,000-capacity stadium on green belt land at Barnet Playing Fields on Monday.
The football club first announced plans to return to Barnet last February, having played their home games outside of the borough at The Hive over the border in Harrow for the past decade.
In January, it submitted plans for the new stadium, as well as floodlights, parking, public facilities, a club shop and a community medical centre at the playing fields on Barnet Lane.
The recently promoted side had hoped building the new stadium would help it prepare for entering the professional football leagues and had hoped to “better engage the club with the area it represents”.
Barnet FC will play in the EFL League Two next season after winning the National League title.
But campaigners argued the plans would permanently erase vital green space, cause harm to the local environment and displace grassroots sports users who rely on affordable facilities.
Some local residents, united under the banner Save Barnet Playing Fields, claimed “the loss of this green space would be a betrayal to the local community”.
Barnet FC argued that the site at Barnet Playing Fields was “grey belt” land at Barnet Council’s planning committee meeting on Monday.
But, planning officers disagreed and said that the harm caused by the new stadium would outweigh the benefits put forward.
Councillors described how they wish to see Barnet FC return to the borough, but ultimately rejected the scheme due to the loss of green belt land and a protected open space.
Meanwhile, other residents, who have formed the Bring Back Barnet campaign, had argued that bringing the club back to its home borough would “contribute to a thriving economy”.
A petition launched by the group has garnered over 2,000 signatures and said: “Barnet FC is a valuable community asset which has lived at the heart of its community for over 125 years.
“Bringing Barnet home will see the men's, women's and youth teams return back to the borough, while providing the local community with fully funded medical and sporting facilities.”
Questions remain over whether there is another suitable site for Barnet to build a new stadium in the borough.
Following the council’s decision, Barnet FC said in a statement: “The Club is currently reviewing last night’s outcome and will publish another update in due course.
“Needless to say, we are extremely disappointed but wish to put on record our thanks to the tireless work of everyone who has given their time, passion and efforts in our quest to bring the Club back to the Borough of Barnet; back home.”
