A multimillion-pound upgrade to one of the country’s top athletics venues has been celebrated at an official re-opening event on Hampstead Heath (Wednesday 17 April 2024).

Parliament Hill athletics track is benefitting from a £2m investment from the City of London Corporation, which manages the Heath as a registered charity.

The improvements, including resurfacing the track, and runways for field events, plus new energy-efficient floodlights, will ensure the site remains a key venue for local, national, and international athletics events, and retains its prestigious UK Athletics Trackmark accreditation.

It is used throughout the year by several running clubs and schools from across north and central London, and is open to the public.

Lord Mayor of the City of London, Michael Mainelli, joined the Highgate Harriers athletics club, Members of the City Corporation’s Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Committee, and local community representatives at the official re-opening.

The City Corporation’s venue, which is home to the Highgate Harriers, hosts the club’s annual ‘Night of the 10,000m PB’s’. The popular sporting event is free to attend and brings together elite runners from across the world to compete alongside some of the UK’s best athletes.

As well as the Paris Olympic 10,000m trials, the 2024 event on Saturday 18 May will host the British Championships and will be a designated World Athletics Silver Label event.

City of London Corporation Policy Chairman, Chris Hayward, said:

“This investment will be of huge benefit for local people and Londoners alike, and we are proud to support the capital’s sporting infrastructure.

“Sport drives London’s economic success and global appeal, boosting its economy through job creation and by reducing healthcare costs through a healthier population.

"Our research shows that major UK sporting events could deliver up to £4 billion of soft power, trade, and investment benefits in the next decade.

“But it is not all about economics – its social value is clear. Sport transforms lives and is the glue that binds people and local communities together."

Chair of the City Corporation’s Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen's Park Committee, William Upton KC, said:  

“We are proud to invest millions to make sure this iconic running track continues to attract major athletics competitions as well as local community events.

“Our investment in the health and wellbeing of local people is worth every penny. A recent report revealed that the social benefits of Hampstead Heath were valued at £51.2 million a year.

“These improvements will not only deliver a first-class sports facility, they have also been made with our environmental footprint in mind.”

President of the Highgate Harriers, Ben Noad, added:

“This investment will safeguard top level athletics for the surrounding community for the next generation. 

“Established in 1879, Highgate Harriers is one of the oldest athletics clubs in the country and plays an important role in the development of our sport from the local community, and national level competition, right through to international competition. 

“The new track will enhance the broader support the club gives to the sport, including facilitating Camden schools’ competitions, athletics for people with disabilities and hosting the National Cross-Country Championships every three years.”

Race Director of Night of the 10,000m PBs, Ben Pochee, said:

“A refurbished Parliament Hill track offers the twin bladed harpoon of hope every young aspiring athlete requires: continuity and long-term potential for growth. 

“And for Night of the 10,000m PBs it provides a sumptuous tartan canvas for UK and international athletes to paint their dreams, from the 2024 Paris Olympic trials to decades of future athletics at the site. 

“I am extremely grateful to the many people behind the scenes who worked together to make this new track a reality.” 

Hampstead Heath attracts over eight million visits every year and forms part of a network of 11,000 acres of open space owned and managed by the City Corporation across London and southeast England.

These open spaces, most of which are charitable trusts, are run at little or no cost to the communities that they serve. They include important wildlife habitats, Special Areas of Conservation, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and National Nature Reserves.

They also remove around 16,000 tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere a year, equivalent to 70% of the City Corporation’s annual carbon footprint in its own operations, and are protected from being built on by special legislation.

Note to editors

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile, dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK www.cityoflondon.gov.uk.

Hampstead Heath forms a key part of a network of North London open spaces owned, funded, and managed by the City Corporation as registered charities: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/hampstead-heath/activities-at-hampstead-heath.

Further information about the City Corporation’s Natural Capital Report can be found at www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/natural-environment.

For more information about the Night of the 10K PB’s, visit www.nightofthe10kpbs.com.