Boldness Without Respect: Crews Hill’s Businesses Deserve Better
Why Enfield’s New Town Vision Risks Jobs and Community The “bold vision” for Crews Hill, wrapped in the language of a New Town designation, is being sold as progress. But for the hundreds of people whose livelihoods depend on the area’s businesses, including the horticultural nurseries, garden centres, landscapers, builders’ yards, and family-run suppliers, the…
Alma Estate Redevelopment: Planning approval setback for affordable housing in Enfield
Introduction The redevelopment of the Alma Estate in Ponders End marks a significant transformation for this post-war estate. Initially approved in 2017, the project aimed to create a modern, sustainable community by demolishing 746 homes and constructing 993 new ones. Subsequent planning applications have increased the number of homes to 1,080, and last night, Enfield’s…
Where Has £650,000 of Meridian Water Community Chest Money Gone?
In 2021 Enfield Council established the Meridian Water Community Chest which promised to transform the lives of residents in Edmonton. Four years on, it Is unclear what has happened to £650,000 of the fund that was supposed to be distributed to benefit the community. Despite the Council’s commitment to regular grant rounds and reporting, the…
Risks of Removing HMO Policies in Enfield’s New Local Plan
Enfield’s proposed new Local Plan has sparked considerable debate and is currently being examined by the Government’s Planning Inspector. One concern we have about the Plan, is the absence of policies for Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs). HMOs are houses or flats that are shared by 3+ tenants who form two or more households and…
Enfield’s Missed Housing Opportunities. Part 1: Brimsdown Industrial Estate
Opportunities to build thousands of new homes on sustainable urban brownfield sites in Enfield have been missed. Introduction The Government’s commitment to deliver 1.5 million new homes within a 5-year timeframe has sparked significant attention. While discussions often revolve around redeveloping Green Belt land and creating New Towns, it’s crucial not to overlook the potential…
Plans approved for over 2,000 new homes at the Joyce Avenue and Snells Park estates
Last night, Enfield Council’s planning committee approved plans to demolish 795 homes across the Joyce Avenue and Snells Park estates and replace them with up to 2,028 new homes. The demolition and construction will be conducted over 23-years, eventually delivering an additional 1,233 homes in buildings of up to 26-storeys. The development will be a…
Is Enfield Council taking fire safety seriously?
The 14th of June marks seven years since the Grenfell Tower fire when 72 people died. Following the tragedy, Sadiq Khan used his powers as Mayor of London to improve the fire safety of buildings. The London Plan (adopted in 2021) now includes policies to ensure fire safety is considered at the early stages of…
Local Plan consultation: Enfield council gives public less than 2 weeks to review 7,000+ pages of withheld evidence
The Local Plan is an important document that will shape Enfield’s future. Enfield’s proposed new Local Plan sets out how the Borough will change over the next 20 years. It covers key issues such as housing, transport, environment, economy, health, and community facilities. It’s an important and powerful document because it sets out how Enfield’s…
Meridian Water: A cautionary tale of unrealistic expectations
In 2009/10, Enfield Council claimed over 2,500 new homes would be built at Meridian Water by 2023/24. However, only 20 have been completed – that’s less than 1% of the projected number. [1,2] The council’s projections for housing delivery at Meridian Water were based on ‘extensive work’ and ‘conservative’ start dates, and were accepted by…
Meridian Water is not working
Enfield Council’s Meridian Water Regeneration scheme, including the purchase of Stonehill Estate, has failed to deliver on its pledge for job creation and housing provision. While the council justified the purchase with plans for a large e-commerce centre and 2,000 homes, neither the centre has been built nor the land cleared for housing. Many jobs…
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