Author Archives: betterhomesenfield

Planning policies designed to protect the health and safety of vulnerable renters in Enfield are not being enforced.

Research shows that fewer than 1 in 10 HMOs in Enfield have planning permission and there is an 85% decline in planning enforcement. Enfield Council is now one of the worst performing boroughs in London for issuing Planning Contravention and Enforcement Notices. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS What is an HMO? A house in multiple occupancy (HMO)Continue reading “Planning policies designed to protect the health and safety of vulnerable renters in Enfield are not being enforced.”

London Fire Brigade raises concerns about Meridian Water tower blocks

Last month Enfield Council’s planning committee voted to grant planning permission for two new tower blocks at its Meridian Water development in Upper Edmonton.  The blocks will be 24 and 30 storeys tall and will have single staircases, despite calls from industry experts to ban such buildings.    Council officers informed the committee that theyContinue reading “London Fire Brigade raises concerns about Meridian Water tower blocks”

Enfield Council approves another FOUR tower blocks with single staircases

Last night Enfield Council granted planning permission for another four new tower blocks at its Meridian Water development. The latest tower blocks will range from 10 to 16 storeys, and each of them will only have a single staircase. This comes only a few weeks after it approved two other tower blocks at its flagshipContinue reading “Enfield Council approves another FOUR tower blocks with single staircases”

Enfield Council has not been transparent about plans to build on the Community Garden at Meridian Water

Planning documents show that a large Community Garden planned for the first stage of the Council’s Meridian Water development is likely to have housing built on it. THE COMMUNITY GARDEN – A CYNICAL MARKETING TACTIC      The Community Garden is repeatedly referred to in the marketing information for the new flats at Meridian One, whichContinue reading “Enfield Council has not been transparent about plans to build on the Community Garden at Meridian Water”

Enfield Council approves 30-storey tower block with single staircase

Last night Enfield Council’s planning committee voted to grant planning permission for two new tower blocks at its Meridian Water development in Upper Edmonton. The blocks will be 24 and 30 storeys tall and will have single staircases, despite calls from industry experts to ban such buildings.  Since the Grenfell fire, the Royal Institute ofContinue reading “Enfield Council approves 30-storey tower block with single staircase”

Where is the Meridian Water Masterplan?

Publishing a new Meridian Water Masterplan has been a ‘corporate priority’ for Enfield Council since 2018, however it has still not been published, leaving the development’s future direction unclear. Our report “Where is the Meridian Water Masterplan?” explains why the new Masterplan is so important and recalls what has happened since the council took overContinue reading “Where is the Meridian Water Masterplan?”

HEY BIG SPENDER

New analysis shows that Enfield Council spends far more on Development Control than other London boroughs but delivers far less housing   What is “Development Control”? Development Control is “the process of determining planning applications submitted by individuals and commercial developers. It aims to ensure that development in the Borough is in accordance with theContinue reading “HEY BIG SPENDER”

Enfield is not on track to build the homes the borough needs.

In the first six months of 2022, more than 1,000 new homes were approved by Enfield Council. However, the type of homes approved did not reflect local needs or planning policy. A large number of homes were granted planning permission in the first six months of 2022. More than 1,000 new homes were granted planningContinue reading “Enfield is not on track to build the homes the borough needs.”

Will Enfield’s office conversions pose a ‘deadly risk’ in heatwaves?

Enfield now has hundreds of flats in converted office buildings, but how will these flats cope in heatwaves?  Controversial Permitted Development Rights (PDR) for office to residential conversions were introduced by the Conservative Government in 2013. The aim was to create homes quickly by allowing developers to convert offices into flats without going through theContinue reading “Will Enfield’s office conversions pose a ‘deadly risk’ in heatwaves?”