TRENT PARK MUSEUM: BREAKTHROUGH

Two years since launching the Save Trent Park campaign, I am delighted to announce that we have succeeded in our objectives - a substantial Museum looks set to be established within the historic mansion house!

Berkeley Homes have agreed to hand over the ground floor and basement of the listed mansion to the  Trent Park MuseumTrust we have just established - pending  approval of their planning application which has just been submitted to  Enfield Council.

After countless meetings, a successful petition and overwhelming public support, Berkeley have listened and proposed a positive and exciting future for former Middlesex University campus in Trent Park - the former home of Sir Philip Sassoon, the Bevan family, and the site of one of World War Two’s most intriguing intelligence gathering operations on par with Bletchley Park.

The front entrance to the Mansion is to be reserved for residents in the upper floors, with Museum access via a new entrance in the East Wing, however Berkeley have agreed to allow use of the front door for special events.

The aim of the Trust is to develop an engaging and immersive visitor experience highlighting the site’s extraordinary history, with rooms available for use by the local community and for private hire, and a cafe open to all. As a learning centre it will continue the educational legacy of Trent Park - providing a valuable resource for school children near and far, with history and nature lessons covering the wider parkland and grounds. The cafe will make use of the terrace with majestic views of the lake and monument, and visitors will be able to appreciate the charming rooms containing Rex Whistler murals, walking in the footsteps of royalty, Prime Ministers and German Generals imprisoned their in World War Two. It will tell the extraordinary story of the Secret Listeners - men and women who fled the Nazis who received little recognition for their work in significantly shortening World War Two.

Berkeley’s proposals for the overall development look very positive - comprehensive restoration of the heritage features, statuary and landscape, and sympathetically designed and located new housing replacing some of the unsightly 60’s structures around the estate. They have agreed, as we requested, to ensure there is no gated element to the estate - and the public will be free to walk across all the restored grounds. And Berkeley have agreed to restore the swimming pool and allow occasional public access to it. A regular free shuttle bus will be provided running up and down Snakes Lane to ferry residents and visitors to the museum and wider park.

However, Berkeley’s plans still need to be approved by Enfield Council - and anything can change during the process, with the application not expected to reach the Planning Committee before January. We will be keeping a watchful eye on progress to ensure Enfield Council supports the positive elements of the scheme, and doesn’t impose unworkable restrictions on the Museum.

Further details of the developer’s proposals can be found on their website  www.trent-park.com, and the planning application can be found at this link on the Enfield Council website, where comments can also be submitted to the Council.

We could not have got this far without the support of countless individuals over the past two years. From the 5000 people who signed our petition, supported us on social media and at public meetings, to the very generous free specialist advice and support we have received from a number of leading experts, including the Prince’s Regeneration Trust.

We are also grateful to Berkeley Homes who have engaged professionally and listened carefully - and provided us with a workable and positive future for the site that we can all be proud of.

There is still some way before our vision becomes a reality, and hurdles on the horizon must first be overcome - from getting through the planning process, securing a workable lease for the site from Berkeley Homes, and securing the necessary funds. We are optimistic however, and hope that within a few years we will have established a local attraction, of national significance, that we can all be proud of.

Source:  Jason Charalambous Facebook page