Forum topic: Local plan consultation drop-in sessions

Enfield Council will shortly begin a new consultation phase as part of the process of developing a Local Plan for the period up to 2036.  The consultation will be launched at special combined ward forums, which will also consult on a new Heritage Strategy for the borough. However, the draft Issues and Options document produced by the Council has already drawn strong criticism from the opposition Conservative Group.

Planning for the future while respecting our heritage

The new Local Plan will determine the future of housing construction, town centres, transport infrastructure, employment, leisure facilities and green space in our borough.

But it is vital that positive aspects of Enfield's rich and varied heritage are preserved, which is why it is appropriate to develop a heritage strategy alongside the Local Plan.

The strategy describes the borough's existing built, natural and cultural heritage and sets out how it will be conserved and enhanced and how high standards of new design will allow the borough to grow sustainably. It shows how cultural heritage practices can be integrated into the Council’s priority of reducing inequality and how heritage can be used to contribute to the wellbeing of the borough’s residents and visitors.

The document is a readable and informative. Naturally, Broomfield House, Stableyard and Park are all mentioned, though not discussed in any great detail. It's good to see such emphasis on the Museum of Enfield, which only a couple of years ago was threatened with closure, but has now been reinvigorated.  It recently opened its own shop, which will hopefully both spread awareness of the borough's history and make a profit.

Gauging residents' priorities

Work on the Local Plan review commenced in 2015 with an issues and options public consultation. The generic options provided covered where growth could be directed i.e. Lee Valley Corridor, Green Belt, town centres, the A10 Corridor, council estates, the feedback received was used to gauge the priorities of residents for future growth in the borough.

In 2017 the Council undertook a further initiative called the Enfield Conversation (Pilot Project Scheme), which consisted of five detailed workshops again with a view to understand residents' priorities.

Restarting the process

However, two external developments mean that it is now necessary for Enfield Council to restart the process - a new National Planning Policy Framework, and a new draft London Plan.  Enfield's Local Plan is subordinate to both, and thus will need to accommodate significant changes made at both national and London-wide levels.  In particular, both set requirements for new housebuilding at significantly higher levels than envisaged by the current Enfield Local Plan. The London Plan calls for just under 1900 new homes per year, as against the current target of 798.  The government's requirement for housebuilding in Enfield could be as high as 3500 a year. Additionally, the London Plan introduces several new concepts, such as "good growth" and "healthy streets", and requires a shift away from private cars towards public transport, cycling and walking.

A new Issues and Options document

The Local Plan will consist of a number of documents. The relaunch will commence with consultation on a new "Issues and Options" document entitled Enfield: Towards a New Local Plan 2036.  An interim version was included in the paperwork for a meeting of the Enfield Cabinet's Local Plan Subcommittee on 24th October.  An idea of the scope of its 200+ pages can be obtained by listing its chapter headings:

1. This Consultation
2. Promoting good growth options in Enfield
3. Enhancing heritage
4. Design and tall buildings
5. Meeting Enfield’s housing needs
6. Promoting a competitive economy
7. Planning for vibrant town centres
8. Community Infrastructure
9. Enfield’s green and blue spaces
10. Sustainable movement and transport
11. Sustainable infrastructure and environmental impact

One of the combined ward forums set up to discuss the Local Plan and Heritage Strategy will take place on 27th November at Southgate Methodist Church.  Residents of Southgate, Southgate Green and Cockfosters wards will be consulted.

Conservatives criticise the draft plan

At the full council meeting held on 21st November the Conservative Group tabled a document criticising the "alarming thrust" of the draft plan and the Council's housebuilding record over the past ten years.

To summarise, the Conservatives say that the draft plan would lead to housebuilding in Green Belt areas, such as Crews Hill, and denser and higher construction in town centres, which would overwhelm the capacity of transport links, schools and hospitals. It would "quite quickly transform Enfield into one of the largest conurbations in the UK"

They question the population forecasts that the housebuilding targets are based on, suggesting that leaving the EU and Single Market will reduce the pressure on housing in Enfield.

They criticise delays in council regeneration schemes, particularly the slow progress of Meridian Water, which they say should be in the hands of a private developer rather than the council.  They say that if regeneration of council estates had happened more quickly, there would be less pressure to "develop every conceivable site in our urban areas and Green Belt" (a trifle exaggerated, perhaps?)

This article was amended on 9 December 2018.  The link to the Towards a New Local Plan now goes to the version that is being consulted on - it originally went to the version included in the paperwork for the October meeting of the Local Plan Sub-Committee.  The image of the document's cover has also been updated.