Starting this week, local people will be asked by Enfield Council to give their views about what should be done with the fire-damaged remains of Broomfield House. The consultation - oneline and by post - will also ask about options for the future of the historic Stableyard and of Broomfield Park as a whole.
This Sunday's Palmers Green Festival will provide an opportunity to find out more about the house and future options. Enfield Council will have a stall where you'll be able to pick up hard copies of the questionnaire and essential background material. It’s hoped that one of the consultants will be available to assist with answering enquiries and help explain the Conservation Management Plan (see below) and how the next step, the Options Appraisal for the future, will work.
Also at the Festival will be representatives of the Broomfield House Trust, who will be happy to give the Trust's own perspective on the way ahead. The Trust considers that it’s vital that there is a positive response to the questionnaire if the Park is to have a future in which the views of the local community are taken in to account.
The online consultation can be found at enfield.gov.uk/broomfield_consultation.
The Council summarises the situation as follows:
Broomfield House and its stable block are buildings of architectural and historic interest, listed by Historic England at Grade II*. The house, which dates from the 16th century, was badly damaged by a series of fires and would cost approximately £6million to fully restore. The stable block and surrounding stable yard is also now in need of repair. Both buildings would need a viable new use. Considering the current pressures on local government funding and competing priorities, the Council is not in a financial position to pay for the rebuilding and running costs from Council money, external funding would be needed.
The Council is working with The Broomfield House Trust, the Friends of Broomfield Park, Historic England and the Heritage Lottery Fund to look at options for the future of Broomfield House and stable block. We have commissioned a report from independent architects to explore possible options for the future of the house and stable block.
The consultations begins by asking people to choose between some main options for the House and Stableyard:
- Community Hub
- Heritage, arts and cultural destination
- Commercial development
- Residential development
- Make safe and retain as a ruin
- Demolish
- Other
It then asks questions about ways of achieving the preferred outcome.
The report referred to above by the Council is the Conservation Management Plan for Broomfield House and Park, which was commissioned by the Council on the recommendation of Historic England (formerly known as English Heritage). An executive summary ("Key Findings") has now been published and is available on the Enfield Council website. The Broomfield House Trust recommends that people read this before responding to the consultation, as it sets out the key issues, briefly describes the current situation, and lists possible options for the future.
Links to consultation documents
