Enfield Town Centre

In February 2024, we presented the design for improvements in Enfield Town and a statutory consultation on the proposed changes for Phase 1 was carried out. Following the statutory consultation, a decision was made to implement Phase 1 of the project, and we are now writing to inform you of construction works taking place.

What works will be occurring? 

Below is a summary of the interventions being delivered as part of Phase 1:

• Closure of the eastern end of Little Park Gardens at its junction with Church Street to create a new public square.
• Changes to how traffic will operate on Little Park Gardens to facilitate the road closure.
• Changes to how traffic operates at the Church Street / Cecil Road / Little Park Gardens junction (straight ahead from Cecil Road will now be permitted for general traffic) 
• New signalised crossing at the junction of Church Street / Sarnesfield Road 
• Relocation of the crossing point on Cecil Road which will also be upgraded to become a signalised toucan crossing. 
• Implementation of a diagonal path linking the two new crossing points on Church Street / Sarnesfield Road junction and Cecil Road 
• Changes to waiting and loading within the Phase 1 project area.

Construction will be delivered in a series of stages. To carry out the works in a safe and efficient manner we will need to introduce temporary traffic measures on the junctions and roads mentioned above. These measures will include signage placed over the carriageway and footway, and traffic and pedestrian diversions. This will mean that people driving motor vehicles will have to follow the signed diversion routes and people walking will occasionally walk on the carriageway or the opposite side of the road within designated zones until works are completed. Measures will also include parking restrictions that will be signed in the area. Access to nearby properties will be maintained.

As the works progress, our contractor will be writing to residents and businesses with further information about the construction plan specific to their area, but signage should also be checked as changes may occur should any unforeseen circumstances arise.  

Some works will require full road closures, and diversions will be put in place. This may result in temporary night closures of sections of roads and footways, and any impact will be kept to a minimum. Impacted residents and businesses will be notified separately and signage on site will also be provided.

To enable us to carry out these works we will be using machinery and vehicles that may cause some noise. We will try to keep this to a minimum.  

If you have any queries relating to the construction works, please contact our contractor TKJV on 020 8983 0077 or at etc@riney.co.uk.

When will the works take place? 

These works will begin Monday 1 July 2024 and will continue until completion of the works which are estimated to take approximately four months. This timeline may change due to any unforeseen circumstances that arise related to the existing site or works progressing faster than expected.  

How will we manage the impact on residents and businesses? 

We recognise that construction works on our streets can cause temporary disruption to those living or working nearby. Please be assured that every effort is made to minimise any unnecessary noise or foot/vehicle traffic disruption, and we have reminded all staff to be considerate to our neighbours. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience that this work may cause.

If you have any questions about this project, please email us at journeysandplaces@enfield.gov.uk.  

In February 2024, we presented the design for improvements in Enfield Town, and statutory consultation on the proposed changes for Phase 1 was carried out. Following statutory consultation, a report that details the progression of the Enfield Town Liveable Neighbourhood Project Phase 1 has been published. This report has been approved by Cllr Rick Jewell, Cabinet Member for Transport and Waste and gives the authority to progress with the implementation of Phase 1 of the wider scheme. The project will be progressed in stages as funding becomes available, and statutory consultation will be arranged for any subsequent stages.

The report can be found here, with Appendices here.

Please note, the date of the upcoming online webinar for the statutory consultation on Enfield Town Liveable Neighbourhood Project (Phase 1) is Tuesday, 27 February 6 pm, and the webinar can be accessed using the following Microsoft Teams link: https://tinyurl.com/EnfieldTown2024

A letter with this correction has been sent to the community. We apologise for this inconvenience.

Following extensive engagement with residents, businesses, young people, community groups and other stakeholders over the past few years, Enfield Council is pleased to share the proposals for Phase 1 of the Enfield Town Liveable Neighbourhood project, which you can find on the right-hand side of this website in the Document Library. We invite you to view the draft traffic order and make a representation or objection through the statutory consultation process.

The Enfield Town Liveable Neighbourhoods project proposes improved walking and cycling provisions as well as public transport passenger facilities to reduce car use and promote sustainable transport options. It also has a focus on improving public realm spaces that provide places to stop and rest and promote a bustling and vibrant town centre. This project is part-funded by Transport for London.

This is an ambitious plan for our Town Centre and the Council. The Council will look to deliver the project in phases as funding becomes available. Below is a summary of the interventions proposed as part of Phase 1:

• Closure of the eastern end of Little Park Gardens at its junction with Church Street to create a new public square
• Changes to how traffic will operate on Little Park Gardens to facilitate the road closure
• Changes to how traffic operates at the Church Street / Cecil Road / Little Park Gardens junction (straight ahead from Cecil Road will now be permitted for general traffic)
• New signalised crossing at the junction of Church Street / Sarnesfield Road
• Relocation of the crossing point on Cecil Road and upgrading it to being a signalised toucan crossing
• Implementation of diagonal path linking the two new crossing points on Church Street / Sarnesfield Road junction and on Cecil Road
• Changes to waiting and loading along Sarnesfield Road
• Changes to waiting and loading on Church Street between Sarnesfield Road and Little Park Gardens
• Introduction of a motorcycle parking on Burleigh Way
• Changes to waiting and loading within the Phase 1 project area

More information, including plans of the proposed changes and the draft Traffic Order can be found on the right-hand side of this page under 'Documents - Traffic Order'. The map of proposed changes as part of Phase 1 of the Enfield Town project can be found on this page and can also be viewed at the in-person events detailed below.

Have your say

We invite residents and anyone interested to provide an objection or representation to the draft traffic order through the statutory consultation. The statutory consultation is open until midnight on Sunday 3 March 2024. Any objection or representation must be made in writing, quoting the reference TG52/1544 and must state the grounds on which it is made. Objections or representations can be made in any of the following ways:

• via the survey here
• emailed to journeysandplaces@enfield.gov.uk, or
• posted to: Journeys and Places, Enfield Council, Silver Street, Enfield, EN1 3XA.

Join us!

We invite you to speak with the project team and view the detailed plans for Phase of the project at the following events:

Following the statutory consultation, a formal report will be produced that summarises the feedback received. Enfield Council will provide a response and use the comments received to make a decision on whether or not to implement the project. The report will be publicly available and will be uploaded to this project page

A Stroll Through Enfield Town is a mural commissioned by Journeys & Places, as part of the Curate Enfield public art programme and is supported by Arts Council England. Created by artist Anna Nicolò, the mural is inspired by Enfield’s heritage and celebrates the borough’s origins as a market town.

In the foreground, are bold and brightly coloured silhouettes of people carrying shopping bags filled with goods from the stalls in Enfield's Market Place. These include a piece of Kente cloth from the market’s accessory stall, and a falling pocket watch which covers the head of the watch stall-holder, as he shakes the Queen’s hand during her visit to the market in 2003, to celebrate 700 years of trading in Market Place.

In the background, are landmarks, curious stories and memories shared by local residents, which create a playful landscape of Enfield Town. These include the iconic Market House, Barclays Bank – site of the world’s first cash machine, and the much-loved Enfield Town Library. Also included are some buildings that are sadly no longer standing today, but still have strong cultural relevance. These include Clarke’s Academy, once the cultural heart of Enfield and attended by the poet John Keats; and the ancient Manor that was once the home of Robert Uvedale – a local cleric teacher and horticulturist. Also featured in the mural is the ‘Cedar of Lebanon’ tree which was planted by Uvedale and located where Pearson’s department store is today. Uvedale’s work is also referenced in the sweet pea flower held by a little girl - a character inspired by an Iranian refugee who participated in a creative workshop to generate ideas for the mural’s design.

Notable local residents are also represented, including Charles Lamb, essayist, poet and resident of Gentlemen’s Row. After reportedly witnessing a desolate donkey struggling to find nourishing grass, Lamb opened the gate between his lodgings and the Chase to allow the donkey to feast on the lush garden lawn. Barney the legendary cat, well known by anyone walking along River View, also makes an appearance.

Among the many stories and memories, there are also some curious and darker tales too, such as the flying chair, a nod to the infamous Enfield Poltergeist; and the fallen teeth scattered in Market Place, where during the late 18^th century, the public extraction of teeth would attract large crowds.

Local residents Aisha Bocas, John Cole and Shan-Jay Daley were recruited as ‘Public Art Champions’ and supported by artist and curator Mark Beattie to develop the concept for this artwork and select the site and the artist – Anna Nicolò.

The artist worked closely with local residents and communities on the mural’s design and creation. Students from Enfield County School for Girls and young people participating in reparation projects assisted with the painting of the mural, which was launched in December 2023.

We would like to give special thanks to Sue Grayson-Ford and The Enfield Society for their invaluable contribution to this project.

Curate Enfield is a borough-wide grassroots public art programme, which supports local residents to take the lead in conceptualizing and curating public art projects for their town centres. In addition to A Stroll Through Enfield Town, there are new artworks in Palmers Green, and more in development for Angel Edmonton, Southgate and Edmonton Green. Please check the linked text above for updates on these projects.

A new mural commissioned by the council through their Curate Enfield grassroots public art programme, was launched in Palace Gardens Shopping Centre on Saturday 2 December.

Curate Enfield is a borough wide programme supported by Arts Council England, which will create 5 new public artworks for the borough - one for each of our town centres:

• Enfield Town
• Palmers Green
• Angel Edmonton
• Southgate
• Edmonton Green

Young people and community leaders from across the borough have been recruited as public art champions to curate these commissions. The champions have selected the sites they would like to see transformed and enriched by public art; consulted their local communities for ideas and feedback and worked with local artist-mentors to devise and develop artist briefs for their respective town centres.

In Enfield Town, public art champions John, Aisha and Shan were mentored by artist Mark Beattie from Hive Curates, and created a brief to commission a large-scale public artwork to reanimate and enliven the alleyway between Deichmann Shoes and Marks & Spencer in Palace Gardens Shopping Centre. Following an open call out, the public art champions selected North London based artist Anna Nicolo to deliver this commission.

Over the past few months, Anna invited residents, business owners and communities to contribute creative ideas for a vibrant and ambitious mural. The mural celebrates the rich heritage, landmarks, stories and myths of Enfield Town, and captures what makes it so special to the people living and working here.

The mural was painted with the help of pupils from Enfield County School and a group of young people participating reparation projects through Enfield's Youth Justice system.

As part of the exciting Liveable Neighbourhood Project for Enfield Town (ETLN), Enfield Council are commissioning artworks for an arts trail. The arts trail will be inspired by the town centre’s literary and industrial heritage and reflect its connection to water and nature. Calls for proposals for two art and design artworks, as part of a wider development of Little Park Gardens in Enfield Town, are launched today. More opportunities will be announced in the coming months.

For further information about these opportunities and how to apply, please see links to the following downloads below, which can be also found on the right hand side of the project page under Arts Trail: Call out for Proposals:

• Commission A: Interpretative Design for Drainage Channel/Cover:
  • Brief
  • Appendix
    
    
• Commission B: Artwork / Designs for Stepping Posts:
  • Brief
  • Appendix

The deadline for these opportunities is midnight 6 October 2023.

We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Enfield Council has heard from the community about their ideas and feedback on the plans for the Enfield Town project over four phases. The four phases of community engagement have demonstrated the desire to improve the town centre for everyone who lives, works, and visits the area. Thank you to everyone who took part and shared their thoughts with us during the fourth phase of engagement delivered from July to October 2022 prior to us commencing detailed design work. A report summarising the results of the Phase 4 engagement has been published and can be found here.

Enfield Council has now received funding from TfL for the forthcoming year, which will enable the project to progress through the detailed design stage.

Statutory consultation is also planned to take place later this year on some elements of the project, and subject to the outcome of the consultation, selected parts of the wider scheme are hoped to be implemented next. The scope of the works will be guided by the funding available for implementation.

We will write to the community with more details on the statutory consultation and planned works closer to the time.

Enfield Council were awarded the ‘Community Engagement Award’ for the Enfield Town project as part of the Granicus 2022 Digital Public Sector Awards on 15 November 2022. This award is for an organisation’s creative application of digital solutions to inform and engage communities in order to achieve better outcomes.

Since 2019 the Council has delivered an extensive community engagement programme to hear from residents, businesses, students, community groups and other stakeholders about what they want for the future of Enfield Town. This has included opportunities to engage with the Council in-person and online, particularly during 2020 and 2021 whilst working in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The judging panel awarded Enfield Council the Community Engagement Award for the Enfield Town project for our use of digital tools including surveys, the mapping tool and information shared through the Enfield Town project page on the Let’s Talk Enfield website, along with webinars and online co-design workshops. Through using these digital tools, we have heard from thousands of people who are passionate about Enfield Town. Their ideas and feedback have informed the proposed plan for the Town Centre which can be viewed here.

We are pleased to have been recognised for our work to engage the Enfield community in this project so far and look forward to continuing to engage more people as this project progresses.

Thank you to those who got involved in the recent community engagement period for the Enfield Town project. We spoke with many local residents at the pop up events held in the Town Centre, met with local community groups and heard from many others through the survey. This phase of engagement has now ended and we are analysing the responses received through the survey. The summary report is planned to be published in November 2022 and will inform final design before it progresses in to the next phase (detailed design)