Enfield Council has unanimously approved plans to build 306 affordable homes, a café, and a nursery next to North Middlesex University Hospital. The decision was made at a planning committee meeting on Tuesday, July 14, with support from the Greater London Authority (GLA).
Details of the Development
The scheme will demolish vacant and redundant hospital buildings on the site, replacing them with 306 homes, all designated for affordable housing. The plans include a 16-storey tower block, a new nursery, a café, and replacement NHS offices. The development will be largely car-free, with 570 cycle spaces and 15 Blue Badge parking spaces for people with disabilities.
Heritage Concerns Addressed
A key concern was the demolition of a locally-listed NHS administration building, which will be replaced by the two-storey nursery. Planning officers acknowledged the heritage harm but concluded that the substantial public benefits, particularly affordable housing and regeneration, outweigh the loss. The building cannot be demolished until a programme of historic building recording, including oral histories from current and former occupants, is completed.
Height and Local Plan Compliance
The tallest building, at 56 metres, exceeds the maximum recommended height in the council's draft Local Plan. However, officers deemed the visual, functional, environmental, and cumulative impacts acceptable.
Financial Viability and Funding
According to a council report, preserving the administration building fully would prevent delivery of 120 homes (about 40% of the total). Developer Vistry stated that partial demolition alternatives would introduce a significant financial deficit and delay the project beyond funding programmes, risking grant loss. Matthew Lintern, speaking for Vistry, told councillors that approval was an important milestone to maintain GLA support, and deferral could risk the entire funding package for the 306 affordable homes.
Community Benefits
Lintern described the project as an opportunity to transform underused brownfield land into a new neighbourhood, delivering much-needed affordable homes, supporting the hospital, and providing community facilities.
