Enfield Council’s advertising and publicity has repeatedly stated that the Meridian Water regeneration scheme will deliver 10,000 homes (including 4,000 “affordable” homes) and 6,000 jobs, over the next 20-25 years BUT the Council knows these statements are misleading and not supported by the evidence.
In 2019, a government planning inspector told the Council that there is no sound basis to show that the figure of 10,000 homes and 6,000 jobs is achievable. The inspector said the site could deliver 5,000 homes and 1,500 jobs. Nothing has happened to change this.
Enfield Council may have an ‘aspiration’ to build 10,000 homes and create 6,000 jobs at Meridian Water, but it is dishonest to portray these aspirations as objective facts, especially when there is clear evidence to show their aspirations may not be realised. Hype does not build homes.
As it stands, the Meridian Water scheme has planning permission for fewer than 3,300 homes and can only realistically claim to deliver up to 5,000 homes and 1,500 new jobs. However, most people in the general public are unaware of this because of the hype and confusion the Council is creating around the scheme.
In this paper we unpick the gap between the hype and reality and explain why the Council’s publicity statements are deceptive. We also look at the problems this hype creates.
The public needs to know why the Council is publicising misleading information about the regeneration of Meridian Water and who benefits – especially given the enormous sums of money involved.
The Council’s Director of Law and Governance should now instruct independent legal experts from outside the Council to fully investigate this matter.
READ TIME: 10 minutes
In the meantime, don’t believe the hype.
Better Homes Enfield 