The issue has created major doubts over whether the 10,000 homes target for the regeneration zone is achievable, reports James Cracknell

Strategic infrastructure works are currently taking place at Meridian Water

Enfield Council was told about a major water main running through a development site at Meridian Water at least six years ago, emails and planning documents show.

During a discussion on Meridian Water as part of the ongoing Enfield Local Plan examination last month, a council representative explained that during recent investigations “they came across some quite significant underground water mains running diagonally through” and that the discovery meant a bus garage site couldn’t be developed as previously planned.

But the Dispatch has now seen an email sent to the council’s planning department in November 2019 by Thames Water, providing advice about strategic infrastructure works on the nearby Orbital Business Park site. In the email, the council is warned directly about the water main.

The email said: “The proposed development is located within 15m of Thames Water’s underground assets, as such the development could cause the assets to fail if appropriate measures are not taken.”

A report on Orbital Business Park drawn up for councillors on the planning committee a few months later, in March 2020, also highlighted the water main. It stated: “They [Thames Water] note that there are public sewers crossing or close to the site and advise that the applicant [the council] should read their guidance on working near or diverting pipes.

“They also note that the proposed development is located within 15m of a strategic water main. They therefore request the imposition of [a] condition requiring the submission of a piling method statement.”

Orbital Business Park lies directly across the River Lee Navigation from the site which contains the water main.

Richard Pestell, a planning consultant from Rapleys who is representing the council at the Local Plan examination, told last month’s hearing that the water main essentially means the council doesn’t currently have a workable strategy for meeting its long-term target of building 10,000 homes across Meridian Water, its flagship housing development.

But the emails and planning documents from six years ago call into question why the issue was not raised much sooner, and the council’s strategy amended accordingly.

To date the council has borrowed £380m to finance land acquisition and infrastructure works at Meridian Water, with that money expected to rise to around £500m in the near future. Earlier this year, amid concerns over the financial impact of delays to housebuilding, the council confirmed a “comprehensive review” of the project would be undertaken by real estate firm Savills.

Lee Chamberlain, the Conservative group’s housing spokesperson, told the Dispatch today (Thursday 6th): “It does beggar belief.

“How do you spend so much money and survey so much land and then not be aware of these things? It is pretty incompetent.

“This thing is being claimed as a surprise – but someone must have known about it. So much money and time has been wasted.”

Matt Burn, who has been attending many of the Local Plan hearings on behalf of campaign group Better Homes Enfield, said: “Enfield Council has known about the major underground infrastructure at Meridian Water since at least 2020 – this is not a new discovery.

“This is a serious issue: it means the delivery of the 10,000 homes and 6,000 jobs is now in doubt and it shows the council is out of its depth as master developer.

“A considerable amount of time and money has been wasted. The mayor or the government should step in to take control of this project, if they are serious about delivering the homes Londoners need.”

The council has been asked to explain the discrepancies around the water main but a spokesperson explained that they could not address the issue directly because of the ongoing Local Plan hearings.

Instead, Enfield Council leader Ergin Erbil said: “We’re building 10,000 homes and 6,000 jobs over the lifetime of the Meridian Water project. It is one of London’s most important projects, and we’ll keep shaping what comes next, from genuinely affordable homes to jobs, training, and community spaces.

“Big projects always bring big challenges. We’re making smart choices to keep things on track. Our goal is to build as many much-needed homes as soon as possible.

“By the end of March next year 301 homes will be completed in the first phase, known as Meridian One, with 50% being affordable, with a further 679 homes to follow in the next phase.

“Meridian Water has achieved so many great things and improvements, including the award-winning Hoppa Park featuring a skate park and playground, meanwhile use businesses bringing entertainment and growing the local economy, and the TCV Community Garden which was given a coveted Green Flag earlier this year.”

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