Developer reveals plan for nearly 400 homes on 'derelict' sports ground site

Brimsdown Sports Ground has been fenced off for over a decade but could now be redeveloped, reports James Cracknell

The early plans Brimsdown Sports Ground (credit Arish Living) — The early plans for Brimsdown Sports Ground (credit Arish Living)

A developer has revealed its plans to build 390 homes on a sports ground site that has been fenced off to the public for over a decade.

Arish Living says it wants to “transform” Brimsdown Sports Ground “into a vibrant, green and well-connected new neighbourhood that benefits both existing and future residents”.

The development would likely rise to five storeys, but include a mix of flats and houses, as well as “a central park with pedestrian, cycle and running paths around and across it” plus “children’s play areas” and “informal recreation spaces”.

On Arish’s consultation website for the scheme, which is seeking people’s views ahead of a formal planning application probably being submitted later this year, no mention is made of providing new sports facilities.

Brimsdown Sports Ground has been closed to the public for several years. It was once home to both Brimsdown Rovers and Enfield Town football clubs, which shared use of a small stadium within the ground known as Goldsdown Road.

But after both clubs left the site around 15 years ago, the stadium and pitches have deteriorated, and the site has become a magnet for vandalism and antisocial behaviour. The main clubhouse was destroyed by fire three years ago.

Brimsdown Sports Ground has been fenced off for years

Although Enfield Council owns the freehold of the site, it has long been under the private control of Goldsdown and Brimsdown Sports Ltd, with a new 99-year lease issued to the firm in 2018.

Since January last year, Arish Living has held a controlling stake in this company, signalling its intention to redevelop the site.

However, the council’s own position on whether it supports housing development on the site has recently changed.

At the time of the 99-year lease being issued, a decision paper stated that the lease was “essential in facilitating the multi-million pound development of a high-quality sports facility in the borough” which would be “available to the public, will enhance the sports provision and provide a new facility, particularly for local families to use”.

When the council’s draft Local Plan was published a few years later, Brimsdown Sports Ground was included primarily as a housing site, being earmarked for 225 homes – although with hope that there would also be a “community use” which “should be linked to provision of a new sports pitch”.

By the time of the Local Plan’s public examination last year, however, the council changed its position, and withdrew the sports ground as a housing site, as a civic centre barrister told the planning inspector that the site was now “part of the ongoing consideration of need for playing pitches” and that there were also “issues with the lease”.

Matt Burn, from campaign group Better Homes Enfield, criticised the council’s decision at the time and pointed out that nearby Durants Park already had a number of sports pitches. He suggested the Brimsdown site could accommodate as many as 500 homes.

Arish Living is now inviting people to submit their views on the plans before Thursday, 16th July, with an in-person public consultation event being held next Tuesday, 30th June, from 3pm-6.40pm at Enfield Highway Community Centre, 117 Hertford Road EN3 5JF.

To take part in the Brimsdown Sports Ground consultation:
Visit brimsdownconsultation.com/have-your-say

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