The plan forms part of the wider ‘Selby Urban Village’ plans for Bull Lane Playing Fields with a bid for funding now set to be submitted, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Bull Lane Playing Fields sports hall (credit The Selby Trust)

Councillors have approved plans for a sports hall on Bull Lane Playing Fields in Edmonton which could form part of a new community centre site.

The indoor facility will include a multi-purpose sports court, changing rooms, lockers, reception and staffing areas. It will also be fully accessible.

However, the application submitted by The Selby Trust is ‘outline only’ as no funding has been secured and funding bids “cannot be submitted” until the proposal had been approved.

It forms the final part of the plan to create a new ‘Selby Urban Village’ site in Edmonton. The Selby Centre, currently housed within an old school building in Selby Road, Tottenham, will be demolished once a new site on Bull Lane Playing Fields is opened.

The old and new Selby sites straddle the border between Enfield and Haringey boroughs.

In January, Enfield Council’s planning committee approved the relocation of the centre, from the Haringey side of the borough border, to Bull Lane Playing Fields on the Enfield side.

In April, Haringey Council’s planning committee granted approval for 202 affordable homes to be built in place of the existing community centre.

On Tuesday (3rd) councillors in Enfield also agreed permission for the proposed sports hall on a site near the new community centre, subject to The Selby Trust successfully securing funding within a one-year timeframe.

Ione Braddick, the urban design delivery manager at Haringey Council who is a partner on the masterplan, said the applicant wanted to “definitely ensure” there was a sports facility on the site that could be funded.

Addressing Enfield’s planning committee, she explained that in the application approved in January two padel courts were included. These will be built on the site intended for the sports hall if funding cannot be secured.

Ione said: “The sports hall is something that is desired by Haringey Council and The Selby Trust but there is not currently the funding to provide that. That does not mean that the padel courts will not be provided. It means the padel courts are there, they are funded, they are to be provided.

She added: “What we’re trying to do is ensure that we have facilities for local residents both in Enfield and Haringey which the padel courts as well as the rest of the site on Bull Lane Playing Fields will provide.

“If the ability to raise that funding is possible we can move quickly into the detailed design stage. Plus, having an outline planning application that is approved is very helpful when putting in for fundraising bids, because it shows there’s surety in terms of the design and commitment.”

Following the discussion, councillors voted unanimously to approve the application.

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.