The council began investigating the unauthorised conversion of The Station Tavern five months ago, reports Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter

Station Tavern in Brimsdown, which appears to now be being lived in as a HMO (credit Joe Ives/LDRS)

A former Brimsdown pub appears to now be occupied as an unauthorised house in multiple occupation (HMO) – despite Enfield Council launching an investigation five months ago.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) recently visited the site of The Station Tavern near Brimsdown Station and found clear signs that people were living there, including a mailbox next to the property with a sign which said: “Letters here for HMO rooms.”

This is despite the council refusing planning permission to convert the building into a HMO last year.

An initial application to convert the former pub into a HMO was refused in May last year. Then, in July, the council refused a second application, saying “the applicant failed to address flood risk requirements”.

The site is very close to Brimsdown Ditch, a watercourse which flows alongside the railway line.

After concerns were raised last October that the building was being converted into a HMO without permission, the council confirmed it was investigating to “determine the appropriate next steps,” adding it was “unable to provide any further information as this property relates to a live investigation”.

At that time the Dispatch reported that no-one appeared to be living there.

Asked to comment now that there is clear evidence of occupation at the former pub, a council spokesperson said: “The council’s planning enforcement team is aware of the concerns raised regarding the alleged use of the former Station Tavern public house building as a house in multiple occupation (HMO) without the necessary planning consent.

“Planning enforcement cases can take time to progress, and this site is subject to many investigations. The council must ensure any investigation is thorough and robust, and all evidence is fully considered before deciding on the most appropriate course of action.

“As this is a current and ongoing investigation, we are unable to comment further.”

The Station Tavern in Green Street has been closed to the public for nearly a decade, with plans to knock it down and build an “unsafe” tower block in its place finally rejected at the fourth time of asking in 2024.

In council documents the applicant of the rejected HMO plans is named on the council’s planning portal as ‘Mr Tepe’. This is the same surname as the man behind the proposed tower block on the site of the pub, dubbed ‘Tepe Tower’.

Mr Tepe and his planning agent Huseyin Cicek were approached for comment. Huseyin explained that a third planning application for the HMO would soon be submitted.

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