An extra 22 homes will now be added to the scheme previously approved four years ago, reports Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter

A concept of the old plans (left) and the amended plans (right) (credit TfL/Barratt London)

A controversial Cockfosters development has won approval for 22 extra homes following an ill-tempered meeting.

On Tuesday (24th) Enfield Council’s planning committee approved plans to build 373 homes on land currently occupied by Cockfosters Station’s car park, up from 351 under previous plans.

One councillor described the scheme as a form of “segregation” while another questioned whether those against the development wanted housing for working-class people.

The scheme is being delivered in a partnership between Places for London, Transport for London’s property arm, and developer Barratt London. It originally gained permission in 2024, after being delayed by the previous Conservative government despite winning approval from councillors.

The Cockfosters development remains controversial among local residents and Conservative councillors, with the original proposals attracting 2,800 objections before being approved by councillors in February 2022.

Concerns include a significant reduction of car parking. The site is currently has 407 spaces, including 37 for staff and twelve Blue Badge spaces. This will go down to 68 in total when the building is completed.

In a council planning report, officers said the loss of parking was “fully assessed” and would help reduce vehicle trips. They also said the development would encourage cycling, with 650 bike spaces.

Officers said amendments were driven by changes to building regulations and new legislation requiring two staircases for buildings over 18 metres. The blocks now range between six and 15 storeys – one storey taller than in previously-approved plans.

The appearance of the development has also been updated.

In addition, buildings will now have a higher proportion of three-bed family homes and slightly less commercial space. The developers promise 40% of habitable rooms provided will be designated for ‘affordable’ housing, but this will be spread across 35% of the total units.

Cockfosters ward councillor Alessandro Georgiou, who also leads the Conservative group, said the amended plans made “an already bad application significantly worse”. He described the difference in quality across the buildings as “modern-day segregation”.

Cllr Georgiou added the development was out-of-character and said: “We are sacrificing our skyline and our heritage for a unit mix that serves the developer’s bottom line.”

His misgivings were shared by planning committee member and fellow Tory Michael Rye. “The original application is ghastly. The new application is even more ghastly,” he said.

Both councillors argued the proposals should be deferred until more detail, especially on Section 106 contributions from the developers, could be provided.

Labour committee member George Savva disagreed. “I don’t know what your problem is, if you don’t want working class in Cockfosters,” he said.

“Maybe you don’t want affordable housing in Cockfosters?”

Referring to other developments in the borough, Cllr Savva said: “If it’s good enough for areas in Edmonton, this kind of building, than it’s bloody good enough for the areas in the west part [of Enfield].”

Nick James, a senior development manager for Barratt London, the developer working with TfL to deliver the scheme, addressed the committee ahead of its decision.

James said: “London is facing one of the most acute housing crises in the country. At a city-wide level, delivery has fallen far behind need.

“It is widely acknowledged that London must deliver far more homes, more quickly to prevent the crisis deepening.”

He said this was particularly true in Enfield, with the borough far behind its housing supply targets. James argued the development promised high-quality and much-need accommodation.

Later at the same meeting, plans for a new 144-bedroom hotel at the Meridian Grand wedding and banqueting venue next to the North Circular were also approved.

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