Enfield Council apparently did not realise it needed planning permission to paint a large mural in a conservation area

The To Autumn mural on the side of Enfield Town Library — The *To Autumn* mural on the side of Enfield Town Library

A “retrospective” planning application has been submitted by Enfield Council for a large mural in a conservation area – after local residents and councillors pointed out it had been painted without permission.

The To Autumn artwork on the side of Enfield Town Library was painted in June by a local artist after the council launched a £18,000 project with the aim to “generate a sense of pride and ownership” in the area.

However, because it sits within Enfield Town Conservation Area, the council should have applied for planning permission before commencing the work. This is to ensure that “proposed interventions preserve or enhance the area’s character”.

Conservative councillor Chris Dey launched a petition against the mural this summer, also pointing out that the money for the artwork was being spent at the same time the council was closing seven libraries across the borough.

Cllr Dey said that local residents have to apply for planning permission just to paint their house a new colour because of the restrictions of living in a conservation area, while also calling the library mural “an eyesore”. His petition has gained 450 signatures to date.

In response, the council pointed out it had consulted local people before commissioning the library mural. But now it has also been forced to submitted a formal planning application, with residents being invited to submit their views before Monday, 8th September.

The planning application states that the mural “brings visual interest and cultural identity to an otherwise blank elevation” but also admits that “the brickwork was not originally intended for murals and may be vulnerable to moisture penetration, surface cracking [and/or] UV exposure”.

It adds: “Weathering, fading, or flaking of paint may require specialist conservation treatment.”

To comment on the planning application, enter reference number 25/02750/RE4 through the the council’s planning portal:
Visit planningandbuildingcontrol.enfield.gov.uk/online-applications

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