Enfield Council Admits No Timeline for 10,000 Homes at Meridian Water
The deputy leader of Enfield Council has publicly acknowledged that there is no way to predict how quickly the 10,000 homes planned for the Meridian Water housing and development project in Edmonton can be built. Speaking at an overview and scrutiny meeting earlier this month, Tim Leaver described attempts to forecast the construction timeline using the current underperforming building rate as overly simplistic.
Construction Progress Falls Short of Targets
Council officers revealed at the meeting that an additional 274 homes would be built at the Edmonton redevelopment zone by the end of 2027, bringing the total number to 575. This represents just under 6 per cent of the grand total of 10,000 homes promised for the large-scale project.
Conservative councillor James Hockney questioned whether this slow progress meant there would be an average building rate of around 130 new homes per year until the target was achieved. A council officer admitted the local authority did not know what the future rate would be but expressed hope that recent efforts to invite private sector developers to help deliver the project would accelerate construction.
Uncertainty Over Job Creation
The Meridian Water project is also meant to deliver 6,000 jobs, many in light industry. However, Cllr Leaver stated he had "no idea" where these particular jobs would come from, explaining that this aspect of the project cannot be predicted yet.
"It could be one of the next phase of technology companies. It could be anything, we don't know," explained Cllr Leaver. Despite this uncertainty, he maintained that the Labour-led council remains committed to seeing Meridian Water fulfil its ambition of delivering high-quality homes and jobs for local people at the numbers originally planned.
Political Tensions and Economic Factors
Cllr Hockney expressed dissatisfaction with the council's vague projections, stating: "Ambition and belief does not sound that set in stone." Cllr Leaver, who also serves as cabinet member for finance, took issue with this remark, responding: "This doesn't work like that."
The deputy leader argued that construction rates cannot be predicted because they depend on numerous factors that could influence building progress, including new development partners, technological changes, and economic conditions. He specifically cited unexpected economic disruptions, noting: "We didn't foresee in 2016 that Liz Truss would destroy the economy. We didn't see that the Tories would destroy the housing market."
Cllr Leaver criticized simplistic calculations about the project's timeline, saying: "Taking one number and dividing it by another and saying that's where we are, I mean it's just Janet and John isn't it?" Earlier in the meeting, he had warned against turning Meridian Water into a "political football," though his own comments reflected the political tensions surrounding the project.
The council's admission highlights the significant challenges facing large-scale housing developments in London, where ambitious targets often collide with practical constraints and unpredictable economic factors. With only 575 homes expected by 2027 and no clear timeline for the remaining 9,425, local residents and stakeholders are left wondering when the full benefits of the Meridian Water project will materialize.
