The owner of the former Southgate Police Station building had converted it into a hostel without planning permission, reports James Cracknell

A “rogue landlord” who converted a former police station into a hostel without planning permission has lost their appeal and been told to clear the building of residents within ten months.

The owner of Southgate Police Station last year failed to win planning approval from Enfield Council for a plan to convert the building into 65 rooms that were designed for people needing temporary accommodation.

Despite being rejected over antisocial behaviour and safety concerns, the landlord went ahead with the scheme regardless and people began living in the building from October 2024 onwards. In December, the council issued an enforcement notice, but this was then appealed to the government’s Planning Inspectorate.

The appeal has now been dismissed, however, and the landlord given until May 2026 to comply with the original enforcement notice.

A council spokesperson said: “Enfield Council is committed to tackling rogue landlords who provide sub-standard accommodation in the borough.

“In December 2024, the council issued an enforcement notice to the managing agents of the former Southgate Police Station after confirming it was being used unlawfully as a 65-room hostel.

“We welcome the Planning Inspectorate’s decision, which supports our action to stop the unauthorised change of use from a police station to residential accommodation.

“The inspector agreed the notice should stand, with only minor changes. However, they extended the original three-month compliance period to ten months, allowing more time for residents to find suitable alternative housing. The new deadline for full compliance is 9th May 2026.”

There has been added complexity to the situation, however, as the council’s housing team approved an application for a house in multiple occupation (HMO) licence in June. But in order to be fully legally compliant, the landlord would need to obtain both the licence and planning permission, so the rejection of the latter means the residents now living there will not be permitted to remain beyond the agreed deadline.

The council spokesperson said: “Following intervention by our private rented housing team, improvements have been made to the building. A one-year licence has now been granted to align with the inspector’s decision and ensure residents can leave the property legally and appropriately.”

Conservative councillor Stephanos Ioannou, who represents Southgate, has long been critical of the way the council has handled the situation. He said: “Once again, there are serious questions to be asked about the decisions made by the local authority here in Enfield. Following the planning inspector’s decision to refuse the application, the decision by the local authority to grant the licence is seriously questionable.

“Residents in the area will seriously ask why the local authority granted a licence for a property that wasn’t concluded with the Planning Inspectorate and, more importantly, was turned out to be refused.

“Local Conservatives will be asking for a complete review of this case, we believe it was seriously mismanaged. We continue to stick by our view in saying that this is bad for the area of Southgate. Residents deserve better.”

The management of the building appears to have changed in recent months. The 2024 planning application was lodged by Sajad Al-Hairi of Log Creation Ltd, who told the Dispatch in January that the police station was providing much-needed housing for “single mothers, the disabled, the out-of-work” and that it would otherwise be left empty and vulnerable to squatters.

Now, however, a new planning application for the building has been lodged by someone named only as “Mr Bredy”, with the agents named as Sam Planning. The application is for a nine-room HMO plus two one-bedroom flats, likely providing accommodation for 13 people in total. It is now being considered by Enfield Council. The application reference number is 25/01875/FUL.

No-one connected with the building could be reached for comment on this story.

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