News

Former police station ‘unlawfully occupied’ as council takes enforcement action

Plans to turn Southgate Police Station into a 65-room hostel were rejected last year

Southgate Police Station and (inset) Susan Erbil
Southgate Police Station and (inset) council cabinet member Susan Erbil

A developer has been served with an enforcement notice by Enfield Council after a former police station became “unlawfully occupied”.

Plans submitted last year to convert the former Southgate Police Station building into a 65-room hostel were rejected by the council in September after fears were raised it would exacerbate already high levels of antisocial behaviour in Chase Side, with strong objections coming the Metropolitan Police and local Conservative councillors.

But just weeks later it became apparent that people had begun living in the building, prompting an investigation by enforcement officers at the council.

In a statement this week the civic centre confirmed that an enforcement notice was served on the owners of the building last month and that they had been given until the end of April to empty it of residents.

The scheme’s planning agent Log Creation Ltd declined to comment when approached by the Dispatch.

Susan Erbil, the council’s cabinet member for planning and regulatory services, said: “The council received reports that the former police station building on Chase Road, Southgate, was unlawfully occupied by residents.

“Following several on-site investigations over time, it was confirmed that a planning breach occurred once the building became unlawfully occupied. Consequently, the council served a planning enforcement notice to the owners on 13th December 2024.

“The notice requires the owners to cease the building’s occupation by the end of April, unless all necessary consents are obtained.”

In its planning submission Log Creation Ltd stated its project “heralds an exciting transformation of the former Southgate Police Station into a dynamic hub of hospitality and community engagement” that would “breathe new life into the historic structure while paying homage to its architectural heritage” as well as “invigorate the local area and enrich the lives of residents and visitors alike”.

However, the council rejected the scheme as it was “proposed without evidence of need, clear indication of whom the hostel is intended to serve, how it will be managed, what support will be provided to occupants and what safeguards will be put in place in the interest of occupants and surrounding communities”.

The council also stated the police station plans did not include “basic guest servicing provisions” and had “cramped rooms” that would be “poor quality”.

After evidence began to emerge that people were living in the building from October, Southgate councillor Stephanos Ioannou discovered that other local councils were using the police station as temporary housing for its homeless residents.

Cllr Erbil said that the council had now “advised all London local authorities to refrain from placing any additional residents in the property” and added: “We remain dedicated to taking all necessary actions against rogue landlords who flout regulations and provide substandard accommodation.”

Cllr Ioannou said he’d hoped the enforcement action had happened sooner but was glad it was now going ahead. He told the Dispatch: “It was brought to my attention that it was occupied and people were going in and out.

“We started a conversation with planning [at the council] and, ten or 15 emails later and after numerous site visits, we achieved the results.

“We have done everything within our powers as councillors to bring it to their attention and the ball is now in the council’s court.”

Cllr Ioannou said that he would support a fresh application from the building’s owners if they proposed to “convert the building into something useful for the community” such as “genuinely affordable housing or offices”.

The Tory councillor added: “The owners have been very disrespectful and gone against the planning authority. I would encourage them to sit down and have a proper dialogue to really discuss something more beneficial for the community.”


No news is bad news 

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts. 

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less. 

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation. 

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit 

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.  

Donate now with Pay Pal

More information on supporting us monthly or yearly 

More Information about donations