Bringing land back into use

Enfield Small Sites Programme

Enabling underutilised small brownfield sites to be brought back into use

Awarded

2018
Category

Health & wellbeing
Outcome

Winner

Proof of concept

The Enfield Small Sites Programme

This award was received for The Enfield Small Sites Programme (Phase 2) a portfolio of 4 sites (28 houses) that have enabled underutilised small brownfield sites to be brought back into use and increase the housing supply in the borough.

20% of construction phase employees on site were Enfield residents, generating benefits for the local area.
The project contractors were committed to working with the local supply chain to build their ability to bid for and win contracts on the project and beyond.

Key facts

20%

of construction phase employees on site were Enfield residents,

New homes delivered

53%

Affordable rent

Padstow Road part of Enfield Small Sites Programme (Copyright Peter Barber and Enfield Council)

Hedge Hill part of Enfield Small Sites Programme (Copyright Peter Barber and Enfield Council)

Shifting perceptions of the area

How/why did the project benefit the public?

The borough of Enfield has an acute housing need, in particular for affordable rented accommodation. This project provided family-sized units and affordable rent levels, as well as high quality homes for private sale. In terms of social benefit, as well as enabling residents of the borough to access high quality housing for both tenants and private purchasers, the contractors were intent on ensuring the schemes delivered opportunities for employment and skills development for the local community.

What were local planners looking to achieve on the project?

To bring underutilised land across numerous small sites back into use to increase housing supply in the borough.
To maximise the amount of affordable housing and family housing available for existing and new residents of the Borough.
To make effective use of under-utilised brownfield land.

Justifying the need

How were local planners essential to the project's success?

The planning involvement in this project was central to the success and delivery of this scheme. The nature of the small sites meant that a variety of very detailed planning considerations had to be taken into account in developing design proposals.

The challenges ranged from agreeing acceptable car parking strategies, to ensuring privacy and overlooking distances were respected. The nature of the small sites also meant that the proximity to other adjacent dwellings was very close, and so particular care and attention had to be paid to the potential impacts of the proposals on neighbouring dwellings, to ensure that where possible a planning policy compliant approach was being taken to respect the amenity of neighbouring residents.