An impression of how the Southgate Office Village development would look, viewed from the Piccadilly Line — An impression of how the development would look, viewed from the Piccadilly Line

Report by Simon Allin, Local Democracy Reporter

Tower blocks planned close to Southgate Station are “too high” and could lead to more traffic congestion, residents have warned.

Two-thirds of people who attended a recent community event opposed the plans to build 200 homes in three blocks of flats up to 17 storeys high, at the current site of Southgate Office Village.

Most people wanted the development to be scaled back to between six and eight storeys and to be in keeping with Southgate’s “distinctive village feel”. The planned development in Chase Road lies adjacent to a conservation area that includes the Grade 2*-listed tube station.

Just one in ten people who responded to a survey backed the current scheme – although the majority were in favour of some form of development. Their main concerns were the towers being too high, the impact on traffic and parking, and stretched services such as schools and doctors’ surgeries.

Developer Viewpoint Estates says it held a well-attended public consultation event in February and has changed its scheme in response to the feedback. A planning application was submitted in May and the deadline for people to comment is Saturday 13^th July.

Southgate District Civic Trust is opposing the plans and claims community engagement by the developer has not been “as meaningful as it could have been”. National charity Civic Voice has been assisting the residents’ group to raise awareness of the scheme locally.

Ian Harvey, from Civic Voice, said: “The local community, in general, supports the need for redevelopment on the Southgate Office Village site.But they are opposed to the current proposal, due to its height, impact on character, and most importantly due to not believing that the consultation with the community has been genuine.”

A spokesperson for Viewpoint Estates said: “The proposals for the redevelopment of Southgate Office Village will deliver much needed housing, including affordable homes, state-of-the art office accommodation to re-provide and create new jobs, and new public space in the heart of Southgate – all on a brownfield site earmarked by Enfield Council for a mixed-use development.”

To comment on the plans for Southgate Office Village (ref 19/01941/FUL):
Email [email protected]
Visit planningandbuildingcontrol.enfield.gov.uk

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