A competition has been launched as part of a multi-million pound investment in a park.

New facilities proposed at West Hendon Playing Fields include tennis courts, 3G artificial turf pitches, a high ropes course, bowling green, outdoor gym, play area, skate park, and a multi-use games area.

The £18.8 million project will also see the creation of a new ‘hub’ building which will offer visitors a café, indoor climbing, activity studio, nursery, soft play, community room and toilets.

Improvements are also planned for pedestrians and cyclist routes across the park.

As part of the project, Barnet Council and the Landscape Institute have launched a design contest.

Alan Schneiderman, who is chair of the council’s environment and climate change committee, said: “We are delighted to be progressing with this ambitious project to transform West Hendon Playing Fields. This will enhance a magnificent green space in the heart of an otherwise very urban area for everyone to enjoy.

“We hope that this will become a place that people want to visit. With the right Landscape Architect leading this project, we’re sure we can make our vision a reality.”

The new design contest will follow a two-stage process, leading to the submission of a formal planning application by the winner.

The first stage is an ideas competition that invites entrants to showcase their visionary thinking.

The council says it is open to suitably accredited professional designers, and not students. The three highest scoring entries will be shortlisted and invited to proceed to stage two of the contest where they will develop their proposals in more detail.

The shortlisted entrants will be awarded an honorarium of £10,000. The council intends to award a contract to the winning entrant to develop their scheme up to Work Stage 3 of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). This part will include the submission of a planning application.

Entries to the design contest are open until August 30 via https://competitions.landscapeinstitute.org/west-hendon/