Berkeley has submitted plans for a major residential scheme within green belt land in Enfield, N14.
As usual, plans like this are usually followed by much hyperbole from some members of the nearby community up in arms at more homes “destroying the countryside”.
However, green belt land isn’t quite sacrosanct. Many schemes are able to gain planning permission if they can demonstrate that they will enhance the surrounding environment at the same time as supplying homes.
Berkeley plans to build 262 homes on the former Middlesex University Trent Park campus. The scheme will involve the restoration of many heritage assets and the demolition of ugly 1960s and 1970s buildings, as well as the reinstatement of historic views across the site.
A good deal of the area is today inaccessible to the public. However, if the scheme goes ahead, proposals are for ungated public access to circa 3.5km of walking/cycling routes integrated with the wider Trent Country Park. Public access to the most historically significant areas of the Mansion House will be granted for the first time, with a museum, café and events space planned.
The scheme will reinstate 30 acres of historic landscaping, and include the planting of 450 trees.
All this goes a long way to dispel the myth of “concreting over the countryside”. Although upwards of 250 homes will be built, the proposals show that even large schemes, when done properly, can add much value to the surrounding area.
Berkeley says that within its consultation feedback 88% of those questioned supported a residential-led development of the site, which enabled the restoration and maintenance of key historic assets. Not only that, 82% also agreed that the removal of 1960s-1970s buildings would improve the openness of the green belt, and 91% agreed that Berkeley had engaged with the local community effectively.
This scheme, instead of eliciting a huge, overly negative response – the kind often seen when major residential schemes are proposed on green belt land – has been met positively. It’s refreshing to see.
As ever though, housing and the green belt is all about context. Berkeley and its partners appear to have shown that their plans are sensitive to the area, as well as provide a good number of much-needed homes.
And they appear to have the locals on side. Now they’ve got to convince Enfield’s planners and councillors.
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