Planning permission has now been granted for fire safety upgrades to the original scheme

How the Arnos Grove car park development would look if built — Designs for the Arnos Grove car park development (credit Connected Living London)

Construction of 162 homes on the car parks of Arnos Grove Station is set to recommence shortly, Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed.

The controversial development, granted approval via appeal in March 2022, was paused in summer 2023 to allow Connected Living London – a partnership between TfL and developer Grainger – to modify the scheme to comply with upcoming changes to fire safety regulations.

The new regulations brought in at the start of this year introduced a requirement for residential buildings over 18 metres to contain two staircases. Only the tallest, seven-storey block of the Arnos Grove scheme’s four buildings fell foul of this rule, but the change has seen over a year’s delay to construction as Connected Living London amended its plans.

Enfield Council has now granted the amended scheme planning permission, with a council report stating: “The additional staircase and alterations to accommodate the internal works would not alter the scope of development regarding visual appearance or neighbouring amenities.”

A spokesperson for Places for London, TfL’s property arm, said: “Following the car park at Arnos Grove being closed in March 2023, initial construction works to prepare the site were carried out and completed. Before Connected Living London started the next construction phase, it decided to wait for clarity from the previous government on the building safety regulations. These were published in March 2024, and included new provisions related to fire safety.

“In response, we have now amended the designs to accommodate a second staircase which the council has now approved. We are in the process of appointing a main contractor for the next phase of works on site.”

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