Enfield Council is currently inviting comments from the public on a document that will play an important role in future decisions on planning applications. The "Proposed Submission" version of the Development Management Document is due to be submitted to a government-appointed Planning Inspector later in the year, and residents have until 27 September to send in their comments.
The document, which can be downloaded from this page lays down policy for the following areas:
- Housing (including provision of affordable housing, size standards, protection of existing housing stock (including restrictions on conversion of houses into flats), construction standards for new housing, and house extensions
- Community facilities, including early-years provision
- Ensuring that sufficient land is available for industrial use and other employment opportunities
- Development in town centres - Enfield Town, Angel Edmonton, Edmonton Green, Palmers Green and Southgate - and smaller local shopping centres and parades. Special attention is paid to managing the impact of food and drink establishments and betting shops.
- Building design and preservation of civic heritage
- Transport and parking
- Environmental sustainability
- Environmental protection - air quality, land contamination, noise, light pollution, water quality
- Green infrastructure, including sports fields
- the Green Belt.
The policies in these areas are set out in some detail - the main document with appendixes totals 167 pages.
A map book is also available for download from this link, showing the locations of areas where specific planning considerations apply - for instance, Areas of Special Character, Conservation Areas, Primary Shopping Frontages.
Although the document is some way off from official adoption, because its content is based on consultation at the draft stage, the policies that it includes can already be used as "material considerations" when assessing planning applications.
People wishing to comment on the Submission Version should first read the guidance notes available at from this link.
