5.1 The provision of good quality housing that is integrated with other land uses and supported by services, jobs, physical and green infrastructure, is key to improving and maintaining the quality of life of Enfield's residents. This chapter sets out the Council’s core policies for meeting its housing objectives including policies for new homes, affordable housing, housing mix and density, specialist housing and improving the existing housing stock. These are supported by policies ensuring the delivery of excellent services to support new and existing communities, including health, education, social exclusion and emergency services.
CORE POLICY 2 HOUSING SUPPLY AND LOCATIONS FOR NEW HOMES The Council will make provision to exceed the housing target of 3,950 new homes as set out in the London Plan1 for the period 2007/8 to 2016/17, annualised as 395 dwellings per year. A new housing target for the ten year period 2011/12 - 2020/21 is due to be published in a revised London Plan in 2010. The indicative capacity is likely to be in the range of 5,600 or, 560 dwellings per year. The Council will plan to meet this new target and for the fifteen year period from 2010/11 to 2024/25 will plan for the provision of approximately 11,000 new homes. The focus for this housing growth will be the Upper Lee Valley Opportunity Area at Meridian Water in Central Leeside and Ponders End in North East Enfield. Elsewhere in the Borough growth will be planned in areas where physical and social infrastructure already exists or can be improved through planned development, including Enfield Town and along the North Circular Road corridor in the south west of the Borough. The following housing figures are indicative ranges in these broad areas over the plan period. Table 5.1 Approximate phasing for new housing development
Approximately 2,500 new homes are planned for the five year period 2025/26 - 2029/30 which is beyond the timescale of the current Core Strategy but are shown to illustrate the later phases of development at Central Leeside and in the North Circular area. |
Justification
5.2 In accordance with advice from the Government Office for London, the Council has contributed to the GLA's Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) (2009) to identify the future capacity of the Borough to accommodate new housing, rather than undertaking a separate borough-wide study. The London Plan shows a housing capacity of the Borough of a minimum of 3,950 from 2007/8 - 2016/17 based on evidence from the London Housing Capacity Study undertaken in 2004. Indicative capacity from the SHLAA (2009) suggests that the Borough has the capacity for 5,600 new units over the period 2011 - 2021, capable of being met mainly through the use of brownfield land.
5.3 Apart from the small sites, the above table shows large sites (0.5ha and above). The small site figure is a combination of known pipeline developments (in years 1-5), identified sites and the current small site allowance of 274 per year (for years 6-15). The small sites figure will change over the time frames and through subsequent housing capacity studies.
5.4 The policy to provide approximately 11,000 dwellings over 15 years or 13,500 dwellings over 20 years is supported by evidence on housing need set out in the Enfield Housing Market Assessment, and is in conformity with the London Plan, which requires boroughs to plan to exceed their housing targets. The current housing need target for London is 305,000 units (2007/8 – 2016/17), however, the GLA’s 2008 Strategic Housing Market Assessment (published in April 2009) identifies a requirement for between 325,800 and 366,800 new homes in London over a ten-year period.
Figure 5.1 Dunlin Court, Teal Close, Turkey Street
5.5 The approach of exceeding the housing target is considered to be the most sustainable having considered all of the options for sources of housing land supply set out in the London Plan (Policy 3A.2). The housing locations have been selected to enable the spatial strategy to address deprivation in the south and east of the Borough.
5.6 A critical mass of new homes is needed in the Upper Lee Valley to support new community facilities, and interventions to improve public transport accessibility levels in the east of the Borough. The provision of new homes alongside jobs in the Upper Lee Valley conforms with the London Plan, and Council aspirations to improve access to jobs and reduce worklessness. The Upper Lee Valley also has a greater availability of brownfield land for development, as well as a number of assets such as the waterways and Lee Valley Regional Park, which have the potential to provide an attractive environment for housing.
Figure 5.2 Zest, Church St, Bush Hill Park
5.7 New residential development in the Upper Lee Valley accompanied by improvements in social infrastructure, transport and the public realm will contribute towards the regeneration of the area and in turn will help to address issues of deprivation and inequalities in the Borough. New housing along the North Circular corridor will involve the refurbishment, renewal or redevelopment of key sites with obsolescent, run-down or surplus buildings and land and will provide a catalyst for improving the environment in the southern part of the Borough. Locating new residential uses in Enfield Town, Enfield’s major town centre, as part of mixed use development, will ensure new homes are close to services and employment opportunities, helping to reduce the need to travel.
5.8 Over the first ten years of the plan period new housing will be delivered through the development of available, suitable and achievable sites identified through work on the SHLAA (2009) and housing trajectory; housing capacity evidence base work carried out for each of the Borough's growth areas; information on planning permissions, and discussions with key delivery partners. The strategic growth areas identified for housing are supported by the sustainability appraisal.
Figure 5.3 Dwelling addition
5.9 The housing trajectory is found in Appendix 3. Details regarding the supply of housing for the period of the Core Strategy is set out separately in the document Enfield Housing Trajectory 2010/11 – 2024/25. This includes further details on the supply of new homes over the first 5 years of the Plan. The main points of that document are summarised below.
5.10 A large site within the housing trajectory is defined as being 0.5ha in area or greater. A small site is less than 0.5ha in area. For the housing trajectory a total of 70 large and small sites were assessed to place them most accurately in the trajectory. Within small sites, only those yielding 10+ dwellings were contacted.
5.11 For small sites potentially yielding less than 10 dwellings, London Development Database2 pipeline data was used.3 This means, windfall allowance is not relied upon for the first five years of the Core Strategy. For years 6-15, the small sites allowance has been used (ie windfall), less some known small sites (ie those that could yield 10+ dwellings).
5.12 In addition, Area Action Plans (AAPs) for the strategic growth areas will add detail regarding some of the large sites and their delivery programmes for housing and mixed use development (incorporating residential uses), in accordance with Core Policies 37-45.
5.13 Outside the AAP areas, planning briefs will be prepared for larger sites and identified in the Site Allocations DPD, where appropriate. Detailed policies guiding the location and type of residential development will be set out in the Development Management Document. As with all sites, the Council will be looking for all new residential development to be sustainable, making use of existing services, including public transport and to provide a mix of housing types (size and affordability) in accordance with Core Policies 3-6.
5.14 As described above, the Council's strategy is to seek to significantly exceed its housing targets. This means that the Council is likely to be able to meet the housing targets set out in the London Plan even if some identified sites do not come forward for development as envisaged. However, the focus of the Core Strategy on growth and regeneration in the Upper Lee Valley and the high proportion of the total number of planned new homes being delivered here - particularly in Central Leeside - means that failure to deliver planned growth in this area would require a review of the Core Strategy and housing trajectory.
Monitoring and Targets
5.15 Planned housing provision will be monitored against the London Plan target of 3,950 homes by 2016/17 within the Borough.
5.16 The provision of additional dwellings will be monitored against the indicative capacity identified by the SHLAA (2009), of 5,600 new homes to 2020/21.
5.17 Affordable housing is housing designed to meet the needs of households whose incomes are not sufficient to allow them to access decent and appropriate housing in their borough. Affordable housing includes social rented and 'intermediate' or 'shared ownership' housing. Intermediate affordable housing can help to address the needs of key workers and those seeking to gain a first step on the housing ladder, reduce the call on social rented housing, free up existing social rented homes, provide wider choice for households and ensure that sites have a mix of tenures. 4
5.18 The London Plan sets out a London-wide target for 50% of new housing to be affordable and an objective that 70% of new affordable homes should be social rented and 30% should be intermediate housing. What is affordable varies according to local circumstances and Enfield's affordability threshold for home ownership or market renting has been determined in Enfield's 2008 Housing Market Assessment. In addition, Enfield's affordable housing target is based on evidence in the Enfield Affordable Housing Economic Viability Study (2009), which assesses the capacity of development in Enfield to deliver affordable housing without adversely affecting the financial viability of development.
Figure 5.4 Key worker housing: Ponders End
5.19 The Mayor of London is negotiating affordable housing targets with all the London boroughs and Enfield has agreed a target figure of 648 homes to be delivered by 2011.5 The target includes a range of potential sources of supply as set out in Policy 3A.9 of the London Plan. The policy in this section sets an overall target for affordable housing secured through planning agreements or conditions on private residential or mixed use (including residential) development, as well as a threshold in terms of housing unit numbers above which affordable housing will be required and the proportion of social to intermediate housing tenures required in such schemes.
CORE POLICY 3 AFFORDABLE HOUSING The Council will seek to achieve a borough-wide target of 40% affordable housing units in new developments, applicable on sites capable of accommodating ten or more dwellings. Affordable housing should be delivered on-site unless in exceptional circumstances, for example where on-site affordable housing would not support the aims of creating sustainable communities. The mix of affordable housing should reflect the need for larger family units as required by Core Policy 5. Some form of contribution towards affordable housing will be expected on all new housing sites. Developments of less than ten dwellings will be assessed in order to determine the level of financial contribution required towards affordable housing off-site. For developments of less than ten dwellings, the Council will seek to achieve a financial contribution to deliver off-site affordable housing based on a borough-wide target of 20% affordable housing. In order to determine the precise number of affordable housing units to be delivered for each development, the Council will plan for balanced and sustainable communities and work with developers and other partners to agree an appropriate figure, taking into consideration site-specific land values, grant availability and viability assessments, market conditions, as well as the relative importance of other planning priorities and obligations on the site. The Council will monitor the implementation of these targets and identify any need to review them via the preparation of the Annual Monitoring Report. The Council will aim for a borough-wide affordable housing tenure mix ratio of 70% social rented and 30% intermediate provision. |
Justification
5.20 The Borough's affordable housing targets are based on the recommendations of Enfield's Affordable Housing Economic Viability Study (2009), which provides an assessment of the effect of changes to affordable housing policy on residential development viability, alongside other planning obligations. This is to ensure that the Council's policies are locally relevant and viable and do not deter development through reducing the supply of land brought forward for residential development in general. The policy is designed to increase the delivery of affordable housing, whilst supporting wider planning obligations and maintaining sufficient incentive for landowners to release land for development.
Figure 5.5 Affordable housing: Brimsdown
5.21 Targets are also based on an assessment of the likely level of finance available through public subsidy and have regard to the National Affordable Housing Programme 2008-11 and discussions with the Homes and Communities Agency.
5.22 The requirement for developments with less than ten dwellings to contribute to the delivery of affordable housing reflects the large number of developments of this size coming forward in the Borough and to minimise the existing incentive for developers to bring forward schemes below the threshold. A financial contribution in lieu of on site provision is considered to be the most appropriate option to ensure the effective management of new properties.
5.23 A borough-wide ratio of 70% social rented and 30% intermediate provision follows recommendations in Enfield's 2008 Housing Market Assessment. The recommendations are based on evidence emerging from the survey commissioned as part of this study, which made a distinction between households who will be social renting and those who are candidates for intermediate sector affordable housing. To be a candidate for the intermediate sector, a household has to be both able to afford that type of housing and to have expressed an interest in the products available.
Implementation
5.24 The Development Management DPD will set out details on the mechanisms for providing affordable housing and for determining applications. In the interim the Council will continue to use the GLA's affordable housing toolkit to calculate the viability of providing affordable housing and other planning contributions and abnormal costs associated with developing specific sites will be taken into account.
Monitoring and Targets
5.25 Affordable housing completions will be monitored against the three year target of 648 gross affordable housing completions between 2008/9 to 2010/11, which will be updated in the Local Area Agreement.
5.26 The percentage of affordable housing completions will be measured against the target that 40% of total housing units completed are to be affordable.
5.27 The provision of affordable housing will be monitored against the target that of the affordable housing provided, 70% are social rented and 30% are intermediate housing units.
5.28 The provision of good quality housing and the improvement of the existing housing stock are key aspects of the Council's housing policy. The London Plan sets out design, density and construction policies for new developments, in association with the Mayor's Supplementary Planning Guidance on Sustainable Design and Construction. The London Plan states that at least 10% of new homes should be designed to be wheelchair accessible or be easily adaptable for residents who are wheelchair users. The aim of this is to promote the provision of more wheelchair accessible housing in London and so help to combat some of the discrimination that disabled people experience in finding suitable housing in both the private and social rented sectors.
CORE POLICY 4 HOUSING QUALITY New housing High quality design and sustainability will be required for all new homes. New housing developments should take account of the design and construction policies and sustainable design and construction guidance set out in the London Plan and should seek to exceed the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3. All new homes should be built to Lifetime Homes standards. The Council will seek to achieve a borough-wide target of 10% of all new homes to be suitable or easily adaptable for wheelchair users. Units should range in size to allow families to stay together, and to accommodate live-in carers. Guidance and standards relating to the design, quality, safety, internal and amenity space for new developments will be set out in the Enfield Design Guide and Development Management Document and will be revised to take into account new standards including the Mayor's draft Housing Design Guide. Area specific design guidance, including design codes and opportunities for exemplar projects and design competitions, will be included in area action plans and related masterplans where appropriate. Housing renewal The Council will use its development management powers to prevent the loss of all homes, including affordable homes and will work with partners to seek to reduce the level of vacant homes, and improve the physical condition and energy efficiency of the existing housing stock. It will work with partners to encourage longer term occupancy of the housing stock in neighbourhoods where population turnover is high. An Estates Investment Management Strategy will be undertaken to inform the future management and priorities for investment across the Council's own housing stock. The Council will facilitate the renewal of the Ladderswood Way and Highmead estates as early phases of this programme, undertaking feasibility studies and working with local residents to identify the most appropriate solution for renewal, taking into account potential for refurbishment and comprehensive redevelopment. |
Justification
5.29 Lifetime Homes6)can contribute towards meeting some of these needs by providing adaptable, flexible, convenient accommodation appropriate to changing needs, enhancing choice, enabling independent living and helping to create more balanced and inclusive communities. To comply with the London Plan, all new housing should be built to Lifetime Home standards. Design and access statements submitted with applications should detail the approach taken in both the external and internal environment to deliver accessible homes and the opportunities and constraints of each proposal. Where elements of the scheme are unable to meet the full Lifetime Home standards, solutions introduced to overcome the constraint should be explained in the statement.
Figure 5.6 Pellipar Close, Palmers Green
5.30 The Council owns over 15,650 estate based homes on over 100 sites ranging from four units to over 650. A Decent Homes programme is underway, however, this is not sufficient to tackle all of the issues affecting residents' quality of life or to support the priority for transformational change through the Council's place shaping programme. The Estates Investment Management Strategy will help inform the Council's decisions about the prioritisation of investment in its housing stock so that it continues to meet the needs and aspirations of tenants and leaseholders. It will look at a full range of options for all estates, ranging from repair to redevelopment and will appraise different approaches to delivery and investment.
5.31 In some parts of the south and east of the Borough there has been a significant increase in the level of housing in the private sector rental market when compared to other forms of housing tenure. This is an immature sector in Enfield which is generally unregulated. The limited experience of some property owners combined with poor standards of property management is contributing to a decline in the quality of the environment in addition to the social and economic issues associated with a high turnover of population in these areas. The Government has signalled its intention through the Rugg Review7 to consider options for the provision of additional powers for local authorities to have greater control over the private sector rental markets in specific areas. The Council will work with the Department for Communities and Local Government to review evidence and explore opportunities for greater control in those neighbourhoods where this is a particular issue.
Implementation
5.32 Guidance and standards relating to the design, quality, safety, internal and amenity space for new developments will be set out in the Enfield Design Guide SPD and Development Management DPD. Area specific guidance will be included in the relevant area action plan or related masterplan.
5.33 Standards and guidance related to the provision of Lifetime Homes standards and wheelchair accessible homes will be detailed in the Development Management DPD.
5.34 Preparation of the Council's Estate Investment Management Strategy is due to be completed in Spring 2010 and will inform future reviews of the Core Strategy and preparation of area action plans and masterplans where appropriate. Renewal schemes for Ladderswood Way and Highmead estates have been brought forward to accompany other housing programmes in the area.
Monitoring and Targets
5.35 Building for Life assessments will be monitored to achieve a target that all new dwellings are built to Lifetime Homes standards.
5.36 New home completions will be monitored to achieve the target that 10% of all new homes will be wheelchair accessible.
5.37 In assessing Sustainable Homes and Eco Homes, all completed developments are to exceed the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3.
5.38 On publication of the Council's Estate Investment Management Strategy, if necessary the relevant DPD documents will be reviewed where appropriate.
CORE POLICY 5 HOUSING TYPES The Council will seek to ensure that new developments offer a range of housing sizes to meet housing need. Over the lifetime of the Core Strategy the Council will plan for the following borough-wide mix of housing:
The Council will seek a range of housing types in the intermediate sector, including affordable homes for families. The mix of intermediate housing sizes will be determined on a site by site basis and the Council will work with developers and other partners to agree an appropriate mix taking into account a range of factors including development viability and the affordability of potential users. The density of residential development proposals should balance the need to ensure the most efficient use of land whilst respecting the quality and character of existing neighbourhoods and accessibility to transport and other infrastructure. The London Plan Density Matrix and area action plans for the Borough's strategic growth areas and the place shaping priority areas within them, will inform the density of proposals for housing developments. |
Justification
5.39 The Core Policy is in general conformity with the London Plan and consistent with the government's Planning Policy Statement 3. It is based on local need as identified in Enfield's 2008 Housing Market Assessment and has been tested through discussions with stakeholders in the house building industry.
Figure 5.7 Poets Corner estate, Ponders End
5.40 Enfield's 2008 Housing Market Assessment makes clear recommendations for the development mix of market housing and intermediate housing. For social rented housing, the assessment of need is more complex. Based on absolute numbers, the shortfall is greatest for two-bedroom dwellings, followed by three-bedroom dwellings, one-bedroom dwellings and finally dwellings with four or more bedrooms.
5.41 However, a different picture emerges when analysing the supply to need ratio, where the relative shortfall is much greater for the larger dwelling types. This means that households in need requiring larger dwellings will generally face longer waiting times before their needs are met. In recognition of the unlikelihood of raising the level of new build completions sufficiently to meet all identified need, prioritising the provision of new dwellings to address need where it is most acute is a sensible policy response. The Housing Market Assessment therefore sets out the percentage-split of house sizes required if a minimum of 50%, 75% of need is met for each dwelling type. The Core Policy assumes that the greatest of these percentages would be an appropriate starting point for policy.
5.42 Enfield's Homelessness Strategy (2008) and Enfield's Action Plan for Tackling Overcrowding (2009) identify a shortage of social rented homes in the Borough, with a particular need to increase the supply of affordable rented properties with three or more bedrooms to meet the needs of overcrowded households and help prevent homelessness. The delivery of the development mix set out in the Core Policy, in conjunction with the borough-wide affordable housing tenure mix of 70% social rented and 30% intermediate provision, will help to address these needs.
Implementation
5.43 This will be achieved through the delivery of a range of housing sizes in the Borough’s growth areas and through development management on large sites.
Monitoring and targets
5.44 The Borough target is to achieve the following housing size numbers for market and social rented dwellings:
5.45 The housing density target requires that over 95% of development complies with the London Plan density matrix.
5.46 Core Policy 5 sets out the Council’s plans for delivering housing types and sizes that meet housing needs and provide choice. In addition to this, there is a need for quality specialist accommodation services to meet the housing and support requirements of particular groups. These include older people, people with physical disabilities, people with learning difficulties, people with mental ill health and accommodation for the gypsy and traveller communities.
5.47 In line with national strategy and the move towards a more personalised approach8 the Council is moving away from the development of traditional and sometimes institutional models of accommodation and care (e.g. traditional residential care homes), towards the development of more flexible models of accommodation and support that offer vulnerable adults increased opportunities for maintaining independence, choice and control over their lives. Increasingly, support and care is being delivered ‘closer to home’ or within supported accommodation services (e.g. including ‘extra care’).
5.48 The supply of traditional residential care home provision for some groups now outweighs local demand in Enfield. As a result of this, and the lower land values in Enfield, new residential care home developments are increasingly serving to meet the accommodation and support requirements of vulnerable adults from outside the Borough. This can place increasing pressure on local health and social care services. It is important that future development of accommodation and support services meet the health and social care needs of Enfield’s population, in line with Enfield's Health and Adult Social Care Commissioning Strategy.
5.49 The Council is currently developing a commissioning strategy for the development of accommodation, support and care services for vulnerable adults. This strategy will be based on a thorough local needs analysis and will include future requirements for sheltered and extra care accommodation. The emerging strategy will be underpinned by the principles of the Personalisation agenda. It will complement and extend upon existing documentation, including the Supporting People 5 year Strategy and other Health and Adult Social Care commissioning strategies. Current plans for the development of accommodation services to meet particular housing needs are detailed within the Council's Infrastructure Delivery Plan. The Infrastructure Delivery Plan should be revised and updated on a regular basis to accurately reflect local Health and Adult Social Care needs and ensure that development meets local demand.
CORE POLICY 6 MEETING PARTICULAR HOUSING NEEDS The Council, with its partners, will develop flexible and accessible accommodation services that meet the local housing needs of vulnerable adults and that support the delivery of the Personalisation Agenda. Future accommodation requirements will be set out in the emerging Health and Adult Social Care commissioning strategies. These strategies should be used as a tool for shaping and informing future development in the Borough. There is a particular need to control the development of traditional residential care home provision and align the development of supported accommodation services with local need. The Council will work to ensure that there is appropriate provision of specialist accommodation across all tenures. Criteria for assessing applications for housing to meet particular needs, having regard to need and supply will be set out in the Development Management Document. Locations for gypsy and traveller sites should meet the following criteria:
The Council will work with the Mayor of London to identify whether there is a requirement for pitches within the Borough, taking into account the existing supply of pitches readily accessible from the Borough in the wider area. Where need can be demonstrated, the Sites Schedule or relevant area action plan will consider appropriate sites for gypsy and travellers accommodation, having regard to the above criteria and any further guidance to be included in the Development Management Document as necessary. The presence of green belt and flood risk areas within the Borough will constrain and limit opportunities for identifying sites. |
Justification
5.50 The Policy will help ensure that the local development of accommodation services for vulnerable adults meets local need. It will also help deliver the spatial aspects of proposals set out in emerging Health and Adult Social Care commissioning strategies.
5.51 Enfield currently has no gypsy and traveller sites and the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment (March 2008) identifies that Enfield has the third lowest need for sites within London. The Mayor of London is reassessing the methodology for assessing allocation of sites across London, which is expected to inform the revision of the London Plan. This may result in a need for Enfield to identify sites, however, in the absence of clear and immediate need there is no justification for allocating sites in advance of the consideration of pitch numbers as part of a revision to the London Plan. The Core Policy complies with ODPM Circular 01/2006.
Implementation
5.52 Criteria for assessing applications for housing to meet particular needs, having regard to need and supply and the Council's Health and Adult Social Care commissioning strategies will be set out in the Development Management Document. The Health and Adult Social Care commissioning strategies will also inform the development of the Council's Infrastructure Delivery Plan, area action plans and masterplans where relevant.
Monitoring and Targets
5.53 On publication of the Council's Vulnerable Adults Accommodation Strategy, if necessary relevant DPD documents will be reviewed where appropriate.
5.54 Although there is no justification for allocating new Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation sites within the Borough, this will be reviewed on an on going basis with the Mayor of London and if necessary relevant DPD documents will be reviewed where appropriate.
5.55 Improving the health and wellbeing of Enfield’s residents and reducing the inequalities in health across the Borough is a key objective of the Enfield Strategic Partnership that is reflected in both the Sustainable Community Strategy and Local Area Agreement. There is a clear concentration of deprivation and child poverty in the east of the Borough.
5.56 Our Health, Our Care, Our Say9 confirmed that people want support when they need it, and they expect it quickly, easily and in a way that fits into their lives. They want adult social care services to consider their needs with a greater focus on preventative approaches to promote independence and wellbeing. To make this happen, the social care sector has developed a shared vision: personalisation, including a strategic shift towards early intervention and prevention, will be the cornerstone of public services. This means that every person who receives support, whether provided by statutory services or funded by themselves, will be empowered to shape their own lives and the services they receive in all care settings. Local authorities, government departments and partners from independent, voluntary, and community organisations will all play a vital role in transforming social care services, taking into account housing, benefits, leisure, transport and health needs.10
5.57 Health and Adult Social Care priorities are set out in the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, and further detailed in the emerging Health and Adult Social Care commissioning strategies. Development should reflect these priorities to ensure we deliver local services that meet the changing demands of local people. The Council will work closely with the PCT, private and third sector organisations to develop flexible, universal services in accessible communities that support delivery of the Personalisation Agenda, and empower vulnerable adults to choose how, when and where they are supported to lead independent lives.
CORE POLICY 7 HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE FACILITIES AND THE WIDER DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH Existing health and social care provision in the Borough will be retained where these continue to meet, or can be adapted to meet needs. The Council will work with the Enfield PCT, NHS London, and other public and private sector health agencies in delivering appropriate proposals for new health and social care facilities. The priority for delivery will be in the east of the Borough. Improvements in primary health care will be delivered through the development of strategic Neighbourhood Health Centres and by more local facilities such as Walk in Centres or Modern GP Practices and Urgent Care facilities.11 To meet the needs of existing and new communities the Council, working with partners, will plan to deliver the following facilities over the next 15 years:
Further proposals for Walk in Centres and modern GP practices outside of the Area Action Plan areas are detailed in the Infrastructure Delivery Plan. Proposals for sheltered accommodation, a carers centre, a dual registered care home, and accommodation for people with physical and mental disabilities are also detailed in the Infrastructure Delivery Plan. New facilities should be in locations with good access to public transport and health facilities should aim to co-locate with other community services. Detailed criteria to assess locations for future health care provision will be set out in the Development Management Document. A pattern of land uses will be promoted to encourage healthier lifestyles including Core Policies 11 (recreation), 25 (pedestrians and cyclists), 30 (environmental quality), 34 and 35 (greater use of parks and open spaces) and Chapter 9 Core Polices for Places. The emerging Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA)12 will establish the health and social care needs of local communities within Enfield. The Council will work with health care agencies and the Enfield Strategic Partnership to ensure whenever possible that new development helps to promote healthy communities and places, and to address health inequalities in the Borough, by influencing the wider determinants of health - particularly in the Edmonton Green Area for Regeneration. The JSNA and Health and Adult Social Care commissioning strategies will establish the health and social care needs of local communities within Enfield. The programme to deliver 24 Children's Centres across the Borough by 2010 is nearing completion. The Council will support further provision where there is an identified need. For major developments, the applicant will be required to undertake a Health Impact Assessment. The criteria for this will be set out in the Development Management Document. In addition, for major developments within South East Enfield (Edmonton) Area of Regeneration, the London Plan requires the applicant to undertake a Social and Economic Impact Assessment. The criteria for this will be set out in the Development Management Document. |
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Justification
5.58 The Core Policy will help to reduce social deprivation, child poverty and inequalities between areas of the Borough. It will help to meet the health care needs of existing and new communities and address existing deficiencies in health care provision (including dental care).13 The Core Strategy has been informed by discussions with the Enfield PCT and reflects the emerging Primary Care Strategy.
5.59 The Council and PCT have a statutory duty to prepare a JSNA of the health and social care needs of their local community. The emerging JSNA, together with Health and Adult Social Care commissioning strategies, will describe the current and future health and social care needs of local populations, as well as the responsibilities for the delivery of services to meet those needs. Findings from the JSNA will feed into the Sustainable Community Strategy and Local Area Agreement.
5.60 By 2010 it is intended that every community within the Borough will have access to a Children's Centre. Children's Centres are service hubs where children under five and their families can receive services regarding health, childcare and learning. Although there are no proposals for further centres post 2010, any gaps in provision will be identified and assessed once all the Children's Centres are up and running.
Implementation
5.61 Sites for facilities within the strategic growth areas will be identified in the area action plans. The Area Action Plans will also provide an opportunity to identify alternative sites, if the ongoing monitoring of the Infrastructure Delivery Plan identifies any issues preventing the identified sites coming forward for development. Elsewhere in the Borough strategic sites will be identified and safeguarded in the Sites Allocation DPD.
5.62 Provision of primary care and adult health and social care will be the subject of ongoing discussions with the PCT and other health care providers as a means to establish future requirements. Any changes to health care provision will be highlighted in updates of the Infrastructure Delivery Plan and the Council’s Annual Monitoring Report.
5.63 Detailed criteria to assess locations for future health care provision will be set out in the Development Management DPD. For major developments the Development Management DPD will set out the criteria for those applicants who will be required to undertake: a) a Health Impact Assessment, and b) for proposals within the London Plan Area of Regeneration (South East Enfield - Edmonton), a Social and Economic Impact Assessment.
5.64 The Enfield Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document will provide guidance to developers on active design, by promoting opportunities for sport and physical activity through good design.
Monitoring and Targets
5.65 The percentage of population living within 500 metres of a GP will be monitored, to improve accessibility where appropriate.
5.66 The Council has a statutory duty to provide sufficient pupil places for primary and secondary school children within their area in accordance with the standards set by the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). For pre-school children the Council has a key role in shaping the private, voluntary, and independent childcare market, so that it is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents in the area so that they can work or undertake education or training leading to work. The Borough is also home to Middlesex University campuses, Capel Manor horticultural college and three further education colleges providing for skills and training. It is therefore essential in delivering sustainable development that the range of educational infrastructure is in place to be able to meet the needs of the existing and future community.
Figure 5.8 Primary school art class
CORE POLICY 8 EDUCATION The Council will contribute to improving the health, lives and prospects of children and young people by supporting and encouraging provision of appropriate public and private sector pre-school, school and community learning facilities to meet projected demand across the Borough. Facilities will also be provided for further and adult education to develop and improve the skills of the existing and future workforce. New facilities should be provided on sites that offer safe and convenient access by pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users, and schools will be encouraged to allow the use of buildings for other community purposes in the evenings and at weekends. To meet the needs of existing and new communities the Council, working with partners, will plan to deliver the following facilities over the next 15 years. Table 5.3 Planned phasing of education facilities
Primary and secondary school schemes which seek to improve existing facilities but not increase capacity are detailed in the Council's Infrastructure Delivery Plan. The Council will support the on-site renewal and expansion of Southgate College and the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London. The Council will support the provision of a new specialist education centre in the south east of the Borough as set out in Core Policy 16. |
Justification
5.67 The infrastructure requirements set out in the above Core Policy have been based on an assessment of need informed by a) the GLA's 2009 pupil projections for Enfield 14 and b) the estimated child yield arising from additional housing growth proposed within each of the strategic growth areas. The Core Policy will help to deliver the necessary primary and secondary schools to accommodate pupils arising from the levels of growth being proposed.
Figure 5.9 Enfield College, Brimsdown
5.68 The Council's Childcare Sufficiency Assessment (CSA) 200815 is a detailed assessment of the supply and demand for childcare provision across the Borough's four Children's Area Partnership (CAP) areas. The CSA found that there is generally a good supply of childcare within the Borough for the percentage of population that want it. The main gap in provision was for more affordable childcare; particularly for those parents seeking to return to work or study. The CSA has a three year timeline and is due to be reviewed in 2011, when the situation may be different. The Core Policy therefore seeks to support the provision of childcare during the life of the Plan where there is an identified need. Although nursery places attached to schools were excluded from the CSA, the above policy provides for part time nursery places (age 3 - 5) within schools and are based on estimated child yields within the strategic growth areas.
5.69 The Council seeks to achieve a 4% buffer in the provision of both primary and secondary school places to provide flexibility, accessibility and some parental choice. Birth rates in the Borough have fluctuated affecting the achievement of this but it remains a longer term aim and will continue to be monitored. The Core Policy will help to deliver additional school places in the Borough.
5.70 The Core Policy will help to deliver the Building Schools for the Future programme, which is a 15 year capital programme aimed at secondary schools, through the identification of potential sites to meet the Council's programme.
Implementation
5.71 Sites for facilities within the strategic growth areas and the place shaping priority areas will be identified in the area action plans. The area action plans will also provide an opportunity to identify alternative sites, if the ongoing monitoring of the Infrastructure Delivery Plan identifies any constraints to the identified sites coming forward for development. Elsewhere in the Borough strategic sites will be identified and safeguarded in the Sites Allocation DPD.
5.72 This Core Policy complements Core Policy 16 -Taking Part in Economic Success and Improving Skills - in seeking to establish a new higher education/further education campus.
Monitoring and Targets
5.73 In common with many other education authorities in London, Enfield subscribes to the school roll projections service of the Greater London Authority (GLA). Annual projections are prepared on the basis of the January Schools Census; in preparing these projections, the GLA receives its basic population data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and information about housing developments from the Council. Most recent projections have reflected not only the effects of increased housing and migration, but also a sharp and sustained increase in birth rates across Outer London and specifically in Enfield.16 The Council is now considering the impact of the 2010 projections on Pupil Places Planning. Further work is underway to consider options for meeting increased demand, which responds to spatial variations in need across the Borough. This will include the more efficient use of existing education sites and playing fields. New sites for schools will be set out in the Sites Schedule DPD.
5.74 The number of primary and secondary school places will be measured to ensure provision of sufficient primary and secondary school places available within a reasonable distance of pupils homes to meet projected demand.
5.75 The percentage of GCSE passes will be measured to achieve a target of 54% of 15 year olds achieving five or more GCSEs at Grade A-C or equivalent by 2010/11, which will be updated in the Council's Business Plan.
5.76 The London Plan defines social inclusion as the position from where someone can access and benefit from the full range of opportunities available to members of society. The concept of social inclusion is central to sustainable communities and aims to remove barriers for people, or for areas, that experience a combination of linked problems such as unemployment, poor housing, high crime environments, bad health and family breakdown. Improving community cohesion is an overarching theme for the Core Strategy.
5.77 Enfield has wide gaps in the levels of unemployment, educational attainment, health, life expectancy, wealth, and crime rates, with the southern and eastern parts of the Borough experiencing high levels of deprivation and long term unemployment. Tackling deprivation and inequality is a Council priority as these factors often act as barriers to opportunity and community cohesion. Low income is often the basis for other social and economic disadvantages, which when combined can often prevent members of the community from partaking fully in society.
5.78 The Core Strategy has a significant role to play in delivering community cohesion and promoting social equity through: setting the pattern of urban growth; developing new facilities or improving existing ones; ensuring that public transport is available to maximise accessibility; dealing with crime and safety issues; and, providing for housing needs, schools, health provision, open space, and employment. Other sections within this document deal with these matters in more detail. However, it is vital that development proposed within the life of this Core Strategy is based on principles that promote social equity.
5.79 The Council and its partners are committed to tackling disadvantage and associated issues through area policies and action. The Council’s Place Shaping approach focuses on not just the physical regeneration but also working with partners to improve services, health, housing, education, employment, safety and prosperity. Four areas of the Borough are the focus for intervention; the area around Enfield Town station, Ponders End, New Southgate and the establishment of a new community at Meridian Water. The Council is also building on the work already undertaken in Edmonton Green, which is an area that has been physically transformed by the remodelling of the retail centre, housing renewal, and the provision of a new leisure centre and bus station, but this is an area where social and economic problems still persist. Chapter 9 Policies for Places provides more detail.
5.80 A further key element to removing barriers to exclusion is the involvement of the community in decision making processes, so that future changes reflect the circumstances and aspirations of local people and promote community cohesion.
CORE POLICY 9 SUPPORTING COMMUNITY COHESION The Council will work with its partners to promote community cohesion by:
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Justification
5.81 This policy supports the London Plan's objective to promote social inclusion and tackle deprivation.17 It also helps to deliver those objectives within the Council's Sustainable Community Strategy (2009) which seek to: tackle unemployment through improving access to training, improving the provision of social infrastructure including the provision for health, childcare and play space; tackle concentrations of deprivation; improve the safety of the Borough's streets and public spaces; and tackle homelessness and discrimination.
5.82 This policy expects all developments to promote social inclusion by ensuring the accessibility of developments to the communities they serve.
5.83 The above policy also supports the processes, methods and standards for involving the community, including hard to reach groups, in the preparation of the LDF and for all planning applications as set out in the Council’s Statement of Community Involvement (2006).
5.84 The Core Policy will help to deliver the aims and objectives of Enfield's Safer and Stronger Communities Board18 and Enfield's Community Cohesion Strategy.19 By seeking to create safe and secure environments opportunities for crime and anti social behaviour are reduced, and a fear of crime does not impact on the quality of life of residents within the community.
Implementation
5.85 The Council will support the work of partner organisations in improving accessibility to housing, education and training, good quality health care, employment, open space, and other social facilities including Enfield PCT, housing associations, North London Learning and Skills Council, Middlesex University and Job Centre Plus North and North East London.
5.86 A spatial focus to tackling social disadvantage will be set out in the place shaping agenda, through the delivery of area action plans for the strategic growth areas of North East Enfield, the land around Enfield Town station, Central Leeside and the area around North Circular Road, and more detailed master plans for the place shaping priority areas of Ponders End, Meridian Water, New Southgate, Enfield Town and Edmonton.
5.87 Council departments will work with statutory undertakers to develop design principles that create environments which promote community safety and discourage offending, to support Enfield's Safer and Stronger Communities Board in the delivery of their Partnership Plan.
5.88 Site specific design briefs, masterplans and design codes for the place shaping priority areas (Ponders End, Meridian Water, New Southgate, the land around Enfield Town station and Edmonton) will contribute to reducing crime, the fear of crime, and anti-social behaviour in creating safe environments.
5.89 The Council will engage with members of the community in planning and decision making processes throughout the LDF process, as set out in the Statement of Community Involvement and in accordance with statutory guidance to which Enfield Council is bound.
Monitoring and Targets
5.90 Enfield's position in the Index of Multiple Deprivation will be monitored to continually improve the Borough's position.
5.91 The serious acquisitive crime rate is monitored at national level, with a Borough level target to achieve 7,486 by 2010/11, which will be updated in the Local Area Agreement.
5.92 With regard to monitoring targets related to fear of crime, the Borough aims to increase the percentage of people who feel safe during the day, and to decrease the percentage of people who feel unsafe at night.
5.93 Emergency incidents and disasters can happen at any time, from fires, flooding and severe weather to explosions, traffic accidents and infectious disease outbreaks. Such emergencies can endanger lives, property and the environment. It is therefore vital that the necessary emergency and essential services infrastructure is in place to be able to meet the needs of the existing and future community.
5.94 Cemetery provision has also been included in this chapter given it is a service the Council provides for the communities of Enfield.
CORE POLICY 10 EMERGENCY AND ESSENTIAL SERVICES To meet the needs of existing and new communities the Council, working with partners, will plan to deliver facilities to support the emergency services where there is an identified operational need. The Council recognises there is an identified lack of new burial space, including the provision of different types of graves, particularly in the east of the Borough, especially in the context of an increasing population and the planned growth in the Borough. The Council is currently investigating measures to address this, including the re-use of existing graves and the possible options and constraints for extending Edmonton Cemetery. |
Justification
5.95 The Core Policy is in general conformity with the London Plan and the statutory requirements placed upon the Council as set out in the Civil Contingencies Act (2004). The Policy also complies with Department of Communities and Local Government Circular 48/2008 in terms of infrastructure planning. The nature of facilities proposed has been informed by discussions with the Council’s emergency planning team and the essential services namely, the police, fire and ambulance services.
5.96 The Ambulance Service responds to emergency calls and also provides a passenger transport service. There are three ambulance stations located within the Borough and the London Ambulance Service indicate that these are no longer fit for purpose, due to the expansion of resources within the Borough over recent years. Future Ambulance Service provision will seek to relocate to purpose built facilities, but also to explore opportunities for co-location with Neighbourhood Health Centres (polyclinics).
5.97 Enfield Fire Service has three fire stations located in the Borough, which are all well located to service the growth that is proposed in the Borough.
5.98 In 2007, the Metropolitan Police Authority produced an Asset Management Plan (AMP)20 for Enfield which looks at the existing estate and local requirements for modern day policing. The AMP identifies that future operational needs will focus on a) delivering several police facilities that enable better public access to the police with provision for neighbourhood policing teams21 which will ideally be located within town and local centres that are readily accessible. Neighbourhood police centres without a contact point do not have to be in accessible areas and b) a new custody centre.
5.99 Enfield Council's Emergency Planning Team, in partnership with the Metropolitan Police, Met Office, London Fire Brigade, Enfield PCT, the Ambulance Service and the Environment Agency, have produced a Draft Multi-Agency Flood Plan,22 which provides a strategic framework for a multi-agency response to a widespread flooding event within Enfield. The Plan identifies the communities and key infrastructure sites most at risk of flooding, and response actions, roles and responsibilities for the relevant agencies. Core Policies 28 and 29 address the spatial implications of flood risk in the Borough.
5.100 The stock of new burial space in London is diminishing. Of the five cemeteries that the Council manages, only Strayfield Road can provide new burial spaces, the other sites are closed to new burials and can only accommodate the re-opening of existing graves. It has been estimated that Strayfield Road could provide up to 3,000 usable spaces that will provide for 5-10 years.
5.101 In 2009, the Council’s burial service commissioned a study by the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management entitled “The Provision of New Burial Space Within the Authority’s Cemeteries”. The study considered a number of options regarding the extension of the land allocated for the Council’s cemeteries, however, these have not been pursued because of a number of physical constraints, such as being bound by residential areas and in one case an underground culvert. There is the potential to extend Edmonton Cemetery to the east. However, this would require significant investment to satisfy planning requirements, which may render this option unlikely. An alternative would be to re-use existing graves or to re-provide new burial space within the place shaping areas and this is currently being considered by the Place Shaping Executive Team. A new cemetery could facilitate a mausoleum type burial chamber.
Implementation
5.102 The Infrastructure Delivery Plan will be delivered in partnership with the emergency and essential services providers, ensuring that operational need is identified and spatial implications of the services required, are addressed within the area action plans and place shaping priority areas.
5.103 The Council will continue to investigate options to address the identified lack of new burial space.
Monitoring and Targets
5.104 Additional new emergency and essential services will be delivered in accordance with the provisions of the Infrastructure Delivery Plan.
5.105 Additional burial spaces will be delivered in accordance with requirements identified by the Council's burial service and the Infrastructure Delivery Plan.
5.106 Recreation, leisure, sport, culture and the arts are important aspects of any society. They contribute significantly to quality of life and wellbeing, community cohesion and learning, regeneration and the economy, and cover a wide variety of activities and industries.
Figure 5.10 Pymmesfest Funday
5.107 There are a broad range of indoor and outdoor recreation and leisure facilities in the Borough, including sports halls, leisure centres, swimming pools and commercial leisure opportunities. Facilities for culture and the arts are provided through a wide range of venues, and include theatres, places of worship, schools, heritage venues, libraries, museums, cinemas, shopping centres, pubs and cafes, streets and town squares, industrial and business premises, community centres (including health centres and hospitals), parks and open spaces, and other public venues.
5.108 Enfield's Retail and Town Centres' Study (2007) found that the provision of leisure and cultural facilities within the Borough are reasonably good. However, pricing, perceptions over public safety and transport accessibility act as barriers to participation for some parts of the community. The Council is advancing a number of strategies and initiatives to ensure these barriers continue to be addressed.
CORE POLICY 11 RECREATION, LEISURE, CULTURE AND ARTS The Council will seek to protect existing assets and provision, and promote and encourage the increased use of recreation, leisure, culture and arts facilities in the Borough by:
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Justification
5.109 While Enfield's Retail and Town Centres' Study (2007) found that the provision of recreation and leisure facilities within the Borough are reasonably good, the study suggests that the main sectors for which there is a current demand or predicted future demand include a ten pin bowling facility, a bingo hall, health and fitness clubs, and bars and restaurants.
5.110 In terms of indoor sports, Enfield’s Open Space and Sports Assessment (2006) identified sufficient demand to justify the need for six additional sports halls, equivalent in size to 24 badminton courts. A need to improve access to sports hall provision to residents living further than 20 minutes journey time from existing facilities was also identified. Large areas of the south west and east of the Borough are outside of the 20 minute pedestrian catchment. Since the Assessment was undertaken a new leisure centre has opened in Edmonton Green, significantly contributing to addressing this deficiency in the east of the Borough. The Council supports the recommendation in the Assessment to address outstanding need by bringing forward more school sports halls into public use out of school hours. The Assessment predicts that there would be insufficient demand within the Borough, up to 2016, to justify the development of any new swimming pool facilities. The Assessment is to be revised to take into account population projections beyond 2016, as well as the proposed major developments in the strategic growth areas.
Figure 5.11 Southbury Leisure Centre
5.111 Enfield's Arts and Creativity Strategy has identified a lack of arts and cultural provision (services and venues) in the north east and south west areas of the Borough. Through area partnership working, arts and cultural venues and independent arts organisations can come together and emerge as a borough-wide infrastructure for the arts. In so doing, the arts and cultural sector in Enfield could more easily maximise opportunities within North London and the region leading to increased participation and growth of audiences.
5.112 The existing libraries in the Borough have the capacity to accommodate the projected population growth, therefore, the focus will be on the “quality” of the service provided. This will include enhanced services and facilities, such as IT and the provision of community rooms where possible and reshaping opening hours to better suit the needs of library users.
5.113 In many, if not all of Britain’s town centres, the public library is one of the most accessible and open public institutions, and acts as a focal point in the town centre mixed economy where retailing alone cannot sustain liveliness and vitality. A key strand of Enfield's Library Strategy is to relocate poorly sited and therefore less well-used libraries into shopping areas where there is evidence that usage will increase and new customers will be attracted to the service. Such libraries include Palmers Green, Ponders End and Southgate Circus. The footfall to the library will also have a beneficial impact on local shopping centres.
5.114 In December 2008, a new library opened in Enfield Island Village to address a recognised deficiency in provision in the area. The Council has recently refurbished Ridge Avenue and Winchmore Hill libraries and is currently refurbishing Enfield Town Library (temporarily located to Thomas Hardy House until March 2010) and Bush Hill Park Library.
5.115 Within Enfield, the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority is investigating the potential of additional sports development at Pickett’s Lock to complement the existing Lee Valley Athletics Centre, camping and Caravan site, golf centre and golf course. Current regional and local guidance also identifies Pickett’s Lock as an area for future development and investment. The draft vision for the Upper Lee Valley, the existing Lee Valley Park Plan and 'Enriching Enfield’ -Enfield’s Leisure and Strategy 2005 - 2008 all identify Pickett’s Lock as an area for the development of additional sports and recreation facilities of strategic importance.
Implementation
5.116 The Council will support the implementation of Council's strategies which help to identify current and future needs for recreation, leisure, culture, heritage and arts facilities in the Borough, including:
5.117 A number of Council strategies which will help identify how we can best contribute towards meeting recreation, leisure, cultural and arts facilities needs, now and in the future are under review. These include:
5.118 As this work progresses, the outcomes will continue to be fed into Enfield’s Local Development Framework, via the Development Management Document and the Enfield Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document.
5.119 The Council will encourage partnership working between key arts organisations, private sector sponsors, private developers, small-medium enterprises (SMEs), educators, schools, planners, community development, and economic development professionals, particularly in relation to the Chicken Shed Theatre in the West, and Edmonton Green in the East, which is emerging as a cultural, as well as retail, centre.
5.120 Specific criteria for contributions through the use of the Percent for Art mechanism will be included in the Development Management DPD.
5.121 In the development of area action plans and masterplans for the place shaping priority areas the need for new recreation, leisure, culture and arts facilities will be identified.
Monitoring and Targets
5.122 New facilities will be delivered in accordance with the Council's strategies and Business Plan.
5.123 On review and publication of relevant Council strategies, which influence the provision of recreation, leisure, cultural and arts facilities in the Borough, Core Policy 11 and other DPDs will be reviewed if necessary.
5.124 The delivery of the area action plans and masterplans for the place shaping priority areas will be monitored to meet the Local Development Scheme programme.
VISITORS AND TOURISM
5.125 The development of a comprehensive visitor and tourism offer in Enfield is based on opportunities and needs relating to leisure, business, culture, arts, heritage and green spaces. There are many reasons to visit and to invest in Enfield. The Council is working with Visit London, the tourism development agency for London, to develop a sustainable approach to tourism in the Borough.
Figure 5.12 Forty Hall
5.126 Visitors to Enfield bring many benefits to the Borough, and are attracted to visit Enfield for many different reasons. The Visiting Friends and Family (VFF) market is a major driver in the tourism economy of London, and the business market is also a considerable influencer. London is also gearing up for the projected increase in international visitors in the build up to the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics Games and its Legacy Transformation. Visit London, the official tourism and marketing organisation for the capital, predicts growth in the Chinese and Indian oversees visitor market for London, and the American market is predicted to remain steady over the next few years. In addition, due to the downturn in the economy, more British people are now spending their holidays in the UK and are looking for things to do and places to visit.
5.127 There are a number of key attractions for tourists and visitors on offer in Enfield, including:
5.128 The Council is also promoting Palmers Green as a Greek experience of London, and Edmonton as a Turkish experience of London, due to the large number of traditional cafés and restaurants on offer.
CORE POLICY 12 VISITORS AND TOURISM The Council will enhance Enfield's visitor and tourism potential by:
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Justification
5.129 Tourism can bring many broader benefits that will contribute to the economic and social well being of local communities as well as to individuals. It can help to regenerate areas and provide a catalyst for growth, help raise Enfield’s profile and stabilise out-migration, provide employment, including skills development and retraining opportunities for the resident workforce, and provide opportunities for SMEs to provide services for visitors. Tourism can also help to maintain and expand underused leisure and cultural venues, and sports and recreation facilities.
5.130 The London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics Games is likely to provide a major boost to sport and culture in Enfield. The events are also likely to provide a boost to the local economy increasing the number of visitors staying and passing through the Borough. The Council is keen to utilise this opportunity to promote the Borough as a visitor destination. Maximising the potential economic benefits arising from the 2012 Olympics is an objective of Enfield's Sustainable Community Strategy. The Olympics Working Group, established by Council, has developed a Legacy Strategy23 which sets out how Enfield plans to maximise the opportunities presented by the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics Games to ensure Enfield‘s residents and businesses benefit from its Legacy Transformation. The aims of the Strategy include maximising volunteering and training opportunities for Enfield residents, and regeneration and employment opportunities particularly in the cultural, leisure and sporting industries.
Figure 5.13 Whitewebbs Transport Museum, Crews Hill
5.131 Enfield has an identified lack of visitor accommodation for a Borough of its size, and North London has the lowest number of hotels when compared to other London sub regions:24 the development of visitor accommodation in Enfield in town centres and other locations with good public transport accessibility will help to support the enhancement of Enfield's visitor and tourism potential, and will help the Borough to maximise the potential economic benefits arising from the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics Games and its Legacy Transformation.
Implementation
5.132 Development standards relating to encouraging visitors and tourism will be contained in the Development Management DPD, which will set out criteria for assessing planning applications for new visitor and tourism facilities to ensure that developments will be accessible to, and meet the needs of, disabled people, families, children and older people.
5.133 The Council will focus the development of new visitor and tourism accommodation in existing town centres, particularly those centres with good public transport access, and will support the development of new tourist facilities within the place shaping priority areas, in accordance with the Lea Valley Regional Park Development Framework, the area action plans and the masterplans for the place shaping priority areas, as they are developed.
5.134 The development of the ground floor of Thomas Hardy House will be completed in 2010, and the refurbishment of Millfield House and Forty Hall are due for completion in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Further details of these projects are provided in the Council's Infrastructure Delivery Plan.
Monitoring and Targets
5.135 New visitor accommodation will be delivered in town centres, and / or the Lee Valley Regional Park.
5.136 Additional recreation and leisure facilities will be delivered in the Lee Valley Regional Park at Ponders End, Picketts Lock and / or Meridian Water, as identified in the area action plans and the masterplans for the place shaping priority areas.
1 The London Plan (Consolidated with Alterations since 2004), published in 2008
2 Designed to record the progress of planning permissions in the Greater London area, planning permissions in London (also known as the London Development Database or LDD) records and makes it possible for the public (and councils) to find information on live and completed planning permissions anywhere in Greater London.
3 (planning permissions granted both 'not started' and 'under construction') and averaged over 6 years (starting 2009/10).
4 Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing
5 GLA Draft Housing Strategy, May 2009
6 Lifetime Homes standards enable homes to be used and adapted as a family's needs change over time; they ensure that homes are better able to adapt to the needs of their occupants at different stages of their life and they allow people faced with incapacitating injury or illness to make short or longer-term adaptations to remain in their home. Lifetime Homes are therefore suitable for older people and disabled people.
7 This name originates from the report's principle author; Julie Rugg. The report (which is titled: The Private Rented Sector: Its Contribution and Potential) was published in 2008 by the Centre for Housing Policy at the University of York. It is available from: http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/chp/publications/PDF/prsreviewweb.pdf
8 Further details of the "personalisation agenda" are set out in paragraph 5.56,
9 'Our Health, Our Care, Our Say: A New Direction for Community Services' is a Government White Paper that sets out a vision to provide people with good quality social care and NHS services in the communities where they live.
10 Source: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/SocialCare/Socialcarereform/Personalisation/DH_080573
11 Neighbourhood Health Centres are sometimes referred to as Polyclinics or "hubs". Neighbourhood Health Centres will serve a minimum population of approx. 50,000. More local facilities are sometimes referred to as "spokes" and include Modern GP Practised(serving a population of approximately 10,000). Urgent Care Centres will handle urgent healthcare needs, but not accidents or trauma cases.
12 Joint Strategic Needs Assessment: Review of Health Needs Across Enfield, due to be published end October 2009
13 The PCT is preparing detailed plans for dentistry which will be published in December 2009.
14 The GLA 2009 population projections indicate that pupil projections will increase significantly as a result of an increase in the 2002 - 2005 London wide birth rate; with projected growth in Enfield during this period only second to Greenwich.
15 The 2008 Childcare Sufficiency Assessment looked at provision by childminders, day nurseries and pre schools in the private, voluntary and independent sectors as they provided care for a minimum of 4 hours; thereby enabling parents to work or study. Nursery classes were excluded from the assessment as they provided less than 3 hours of care
16 The projection is based on the latest reception forecast from the GLA informed by the 2010 January Schools Census and the 2009 population projections (in turn based on the latest actual birth data – for 2008).
17 Objective 4: To promote social inclusion and tackle deprivation and discrimination, page 9, London Plan, February 2008.
18 Enfield Safer and Stronger Communities Board: Partnership Plan 2009 - 12
19 Enfield a Borough for all, Enfield's Community Cohesion Strategy 2007 - 2009.
20 Metropolitan Police Estate, Asset Management Plan:Enfield, November 2007
21 The Safer Neighbourhoods Teams are additional to other policing units and are dedicated to local community issues rather than core policing such as response calls and criminal investigations
22 Draft Multi-Agency Flood Plan (July 2009)
23 Enfield's Legacy Strategy for the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics Games (2009)
24 Source: London Development Agency, October 2009
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