A previous scheme was ditched after the developer claimed it could no longer provide affordable housing on the site, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

The new plans from Arish Contractors Ltd for the Grove Road site (credit Boyes Architectural Design Ltd) — Plans from Arish Contractors Ltd for the Grove Road site (credit Boyes Architectural Design Ltd)

Councillors have voted unanimously to approve plans to demolish a former church hall in New Southgate and build a six-storey block of flats in its place.

A previous planning application for the demolition of the church hall in Grove Road, proposed by developer Beverley Homes Ltd in 2022, included 13 affordable homes and won approval the same year.

However, during later negotiations with Enfield Council, the applicant sought to offer a financial contribution instesad of the affordable homes after “no meaningful interest” was made by a registered social landlord.

Addressing a planning committee meeting on Tuesday (18th), council officer Allison Russell said: “At that time, that wasn’t considered acceptable.

“The plan was assessed at the time to [be able] provide ten affordable units on site so the applicants decided to appeal for non-determination of the application.”

The Beverley Homes application was dismissed by the government’s Planning Inspectorate in 2024.

This year, however, a fresh application for the church hall site was submitted by Arish Contractors Ltd, with 24 homes but none designated as affordable.

Eight of the homes will be one-bedroom, twelve will be two bedroom and four will be three-bedroom. Three disabled parking spaces are also included.

Following a review of Arish’s financial viability appraisal, used to justify the lack of discounted housing, council officers concluded the application would be unviable if ten affordable homes were provided.

“The committee should be supporting approving housing units unless there is anything significantly unacceptable, which in this case there isn’t,” the officer explained.

Instead of affordable housing, Arish has agreed to make an “upfront financial contribution of £150,000 with an additional payment of £103,000, should the [project’s] gross development =value (GDV) reach £10.92million”.

After a 20-minute discussion, the planning committee voted unanimously to support the application.

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