Work on the long-awaited redevelopment of Upton and Raynham Estate is scheduled to start next month, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

The plans for Upton and Raynham Estate (credit Levitt Bernstein-Enfield Council)

Plans for 135 affordable homes in Angel Edmonton have moved a step closer to delivery.

The redevelopment at Upton and Raynham Estate was discussed at a cabinet meeting last night (Wednesday 10th) with the council agreeing to enter into a construction contract for the scheme, which already has planning permission.

Once delivered, the new homes will help to facilite the relocation of council tenants currently living at the nearby Joyce Avenue and Snells Park estates, which are also being redeveloped.

Beck House in Upton Road was previously demolished to make way for the scheme three years ago, with the adjacent Scott House being retained and upgraded as part of the new development.

Of the 135 total homes being built, 46 will be three-bedroom, eight will be four-bed, and the rest one- or two-bed. Of the affordable housing mix, 42 are planned for social rent, 66 for London Affordable Rent, and 27 for shared ownership.

Ayten Guzel, cabinet member for housing, said: “It’s not easy to get these schemes to work, especially when you’re in such a volatile market position.

“To now be able to present these options to cabinet, I think it’s fantastic, and it does show we are delivering for Enfield residents and we are delivering homes locally.”

Explaining further how the scheme was making progress, Cllr Guzel said: “We’re going from planning to delivery, we’re going from working out the logistics and the viability to actually making it work and delivering on site.”

She said the scheme would make the area’s public realm “safer” and part of the project also included “looking at traffic issues” and trying to “improve” them.

Cllr Guzel added the scheme wouldn’t have been possible without City Hall funding, which was obtained in 2021.

The Greater London Authority granted £166.6million to Enfield Council to tackle the borough’s lack of social housing. It is funding the construction of 1,120 council homes in total, with sites including Joyce and Snells and Alma Estate in Ponders End also benefiting from the cash boost four years ago.

Council leader Ergin Erbil said: “It speaks volumes; when a Labour government can work with a Labour mayor to work with a Labour council to build the homes that our families desperately need, things happen.”

The decision on the construction contract was discussed and agreed in private to protect commercial confidentiality. Work is now due to start next month.

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