Hello everyone,

I just wanted to alert you to the planned development by Enfield/Notting Hill Housing.  We have been distributing some leaflets in the area (see below).

If you could write in with your concerns/comments that would be very helpful.  The more pressure we put on the developers to build what the local community wants, the better.

Thanks,

Sarah

Major new housing development on your doorstep – act now before it’s too late.

Dear Resident

You should have recently received notice from Enfield Council of a planning application for a major new housing development on the North Circular between Powys Lane and Pymms Close. The development will contain 225 dwellings varying from one bedroom flats to four bedroom houses and will be a combination of public housing and part ownership. The scheme will include large apartment blocks up to five storeys high along the North Circular and, is likely to lead to an extra 300 – 400 residents in this small area.

Details of the planning application can be found on Enfield Council’s website follow this link

Or log on at  the following address: http://forms.enfield.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/wphappcriteria.display 

which takes you to a search facility where you should insert the planning reference number:

P12-02858PLA.

Why you should be concerned

Basically the proposed development by Notting Hill Housing Association is too large in terms of the number of dwellings and the height of the buildings. It will totally change the character of the area for the worse and will cause traffic congestion and parking problems in the nearby streets. Broomfield Road and Pymms Close are likely to be the worst affected as they are directly adjacent to the scheme, but Westminster Drive and other nearby streets will also be affected in terms of visual impact and parking over-spill.

We do not object to development of an area that has been planning blighted for many years. However any development must be on a smaller scale in keeping with the character and infrastructure of the local area. This current planning application must not be allowed to succeed and the developers must be made to think again.

What you can do

Look at the plans, think about how they will affect you and most importantly, send your objections to Enfield Council Planning Department as soon as possible. Here are some points you might want to include:

• The development is out of character with the area, There are no other five storey buildings in this area. These buildings may affect the right to light in some streets such as Broomfield Road and in any event the visual impact will be overwhelming in an area consisting mainly of two storey buildings.

• There will be a significant increase in traffic entering and exiting Broomfield Road and another planned entrance to the development. This will increase congestion on the North Circular and make these junctions even more dangerous than they are already.

• The proposed parking provision for about 60 vehicles is wholly inadequate. Around 75% UK of household own at least one car. On that basis there needs to be at least 95 parking spaces, and even that would be barely adequate taking into account demand for spaces created by households with more than one car (around 30% of UK households), visitors and deliveries. Street parking in Broomfield Road will be reduced by around 50%. It is inevitable that parking from the development will spill out into the neighbouring streets where there is already little or no spare capacity.

• Trees in Broomfield Road and other places will be felled adding to environmental degradation and loss of character in these areas.

• Several Victorian villas on the North Circular will be demolished and architectural heritage will be destroyed. It would be more appropriate and in keeping with the area to refurbish these properties rather than knock them down.

• Given the scale of the development, the tiny planned provision of green space is inadequate and tokenistic.

This is not meant to be an exhaustive list of issues and you may be aware of others. Objections can be emailed to Enfield Council at development.control@enfield.gov.uk or ray.reilly@enfield.gov.uk

Act now

The planning notice states that comments must be submitted by 8 January. It appears that most of us did not receive the notices until 2 January and we have been advised that objections sent after 8 January will still be considered. However we should still act quickly as the application could be considered by Enfield Council’s Planning Committee in February.

Other things you can do

Lobby our local Councillors: This is the Southgate Green ward and the names of the Councillors can be found on this website  and the Enfield Council website.

Any other suggestions for action such as setting up a social media page to keep people informed of developments would be welcomed. Do let us have your e mail address so that we can keep in contact with each other.

Yours sincerely

Simon Cliff 8 Broomfield Cottages, sicliff4@yahoo.co.uk

Sarah Fogg 7 Broomfield Cottages, sarah.fogg@btinternet.com