The facility which opened in Ponders End last summer was originally granted approval on a temporary basis for two years

Enfield Council is proposing to make a temporary Ponders End homeless shelter permanent – amid complaints from local residents about rising antisocial behaviour.

John Wilkes House, a former council office building in Ponders End High Street, was last year reopened as a shelter for up to 36 single homeless men.

It had won permission in 2024 to run on a temporary basis, for two years – a reduction on the five-year period that had been sought after planning committee members heard concerns about the impact the shelter would have locally.

Now, after less than a year of operation, the council is seeking to make the shelter permanent.

Robert Brassett, chair of the Friends of Durants and Ponders End Parks group, told the Dispatch: “There was supposed to be a two-year probation period [but] what they have done now is they have put in a planning application to make it permanent, which is crazy when they haven’t even done their probation period – it only opened in the summer.

“They are rushing it through. Probably because they are trying to get it through before the election.”

The council has been asked by the Dispatch to explain why it was not waiting for the end of the two-year period before seeking approval to make the shelter permanent, but has not responded.

Planning documents state: “Following a successful period of use, this application proposes permanent use of John Wilkes House for a hostel for residential accommodation for 36 single homeless men.

“This is justified by the continued and ongoing need for this specific provision on a permanent basis [and] the operational success of the scheme and its demonstrable track record, addressing concerns regarding adverse impact upon neighbouring amenity.”

The planning statement further claims that “robust risk assessments are carried out for occupants to make sure they are low risk and committed to engagement” and that “residents sign a service agreement outlining behaviour standards and terms and conditions they must adhere to”.

However, Robert believes that antisocial behaviour in the area is worsening. He said: “We looked up the police reports, there is not a lot happening outside the building but there is at the top of Nightingale Road, Boundary Brook Park and Ponders End Park. There are drug deals in the park.

“They are not doing anything at John Wilkes House because there is security there to stop them standing outside, so they go further away.”

At the original planning committee debate in June 2024, the council’s housing advisory service Richard Sorenson said: “The conception that there is always something wrong with the individual who becomes homeless is really quite concerning.”

A statutory consultation on the plans to make the shelter permanent ends next Thursday (29^th). Comments can be submitted via the council’s planning portal, using reference number 25/03565/RE4.

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