Forum topic: Campaign launched to defend the historic heart of Enfield Town

An impression of how the proposed Palace Square tower blocks might look like from Town Park (taken from the Enfield Society website, which warns that the image is for illustration only, as the developer has not yet revealed how the development will look)

The Enfield Society, in line with its motto "Conserving our heritage and environment", has launched a campaign to prevent the construction of multiple high-rise buildings - including one 26 storeys high - in the centre of the Enfield Town Conservation Area.

The Palace Square Campaign is named after the proposed scheme of redevelopment for the two shopping centres that are sandwiched between Church Street and Cecil Road, on the site of the former Enfield Palace (demolished 1927). The proposals are for a mixed retail, evening economy and housing scheme. While welcoming investment, the Society considers that the price in terms of damage to heritage would be far too high:

The Enfield Society welcomes the prospect of overdue investment in our outdated Palace Gardens shopping centre by its owners, DWS (Deutsche Bank), and their promise of new catering, leisure and retail outlets. However, we and a number of other local groups oppose the scheme’s six tower blocks, especially those from 12 to 26 storeys high. The central tower would be more than twice the height of the Civic Centre and Tower Point, the other high rise buildings in town. 350 flats built to rent in phase 1, with another 250 in phase 2 would stand over the shops and around a new square.

The benefits of providing new homes are obvious, but not at the expense of our cherished views and vistas. The proposed massive landmark would tower above the conservation area and Town Park, cast shadows over Church Street and the Market Square and be seen for miles.

In a press release, the Society says it recognises the need to introduce residential use to both bring people into the Town and fund the improvements, but is completely opposed to the inclusion of a tower block, which would "dominate the historic heart of the Town". The Society believes that a lower rise development would be much more appropriate to the area.

Recognising the success of collaboration between Southgate District Civic Voice and the national organisation Civic Voice in campaigning against the erection of tower blocks adjacent to Southgate Circus, the Enfield Society will be working with both to gauge local opinion and help members of the public influence the future of the owners' plans. It will shortly be launching an independent opinion survey, both online and on paper, and is urging DWS to display their plans in the shopping centre.

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