None of the twelve new homes will be classed as affordable housing and neighbours fear their own house prices will be affected, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

The plans by S&P New Homes for new flats and (inset) the existing house in Hertford Road (credit Google)

A plan to build two blocks of flats in Freezywater has been approved despite objections from local residents who fear their own homes will fall in value.

Applicant S&P New Homes was given the green light by Enfield’s planning committee on Tuesday (3rd) in a split vote.

A five-bedroom two-storey property at the junction of Hertford Road and Tollgate Road will be demolished and replaced with two three-storey blocks containing twelve flats.

The proposal does not provide any affordable housing.

Neighbour Yannis Sabry gave a deputation highlighting the “historical value” of the building set to be demolished and the congestion likely to be caused during construction, as well as pressure on parking.

He said: “The modern design of the development would significantly alter the character of the neighbourhood and disrupt the harmonious balance of the surrounding properties.”

Yannis added: “I need to emphasise the impact this is going to have on the value of our homes, it’s going to bring it down.”

Conservative committee member Michael Rye commented on the “dramatic change” the site would undergo if planning permission was granted given the site’s current “spaciousness”.

He also raised concerns the new flats would overlook a neighbouring dental surgery.

But planning officer Samuel Wong said in this instance “less weight” was put on overlooking as the neighbouring property was not used as a residence. He added that windows on the block which would overlook the surgery were ‘tilted’ and positioned high on the wall to help avoid this.

Mike Hoyland, the council’s senior transport planner, said there were approximately 25 parking spaces observed “in walking distance” of the application site.

Four spaces will be provided on site and Mike said assessments indicated any extra need for parking would be “absorbed”.

Simon clarified the property was a ‘neo-Georgian’ building, built in the late 20th Century. He added the council’s heritage officer did not consider, despite the property being “nice looking”, that it had “a lot of heritage value”.

Following the debate, five Labour councillors voted in favour of the application while two Conservative councillors, Peter Fallart and Lee Chamberlain, voted against and two, Michael Rye and Jim Steven, abstained.

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