Garages: Affordable Workspaces

Providing affordable and flexible work and studio space for local businesses

Enfield Council is committed to building an economy that provides well paid, high quality and secure employment. We are proposing to create new workspaces which support young and innovative businesses through affordable rents on simple, flexible terms on the site of existing garages and a disused laundry yard adjoining Fore Street on the Joyce & Snells estate for the next five years.

In collaboration with workspace provider Launch It Jan Kattein Architects have developed the design of new workspace units which reuse much of the existing garage structures whilst providing great workspaces suitable for a variety of tenants.

Latest Update

The affordable workspaces, called Angel Yard, secured planning permission in December 2021.

The council has appointed a workspace operator 'Launch It' to run the space. Launch It will be sending out details of how to express interest in the units in Early 2023 so keep checking back to this page for more information.

Expressions of interest for a workspace unit can be sent to info@launchit.org.uk

Local Contractor Sullivan Brothers were appointed to deliver the project and have been on site since Summer 2022. The project is due for completion Spring 2023.

Existing site

The existing garage site unfortunately suffers from high levels of anti-social behaviour and crime. The garages themselves are structurally sound but in poor repair, with asbestos sheeting to the roofs.

Just to the north across Grove Street sits St. John & St. James' Primary School, with Boundary Hall Community Centre just to the south.

Aerial View

Finalised Proposals

We propose transforming the existing garages with new roofs to create flexible individual workshop, office, studio or retail spaces along two well-overlooked streets, together with five new two storey timber framed workspaces.

Opening new gates in walls to the north and south will create a new link to St. John and St. James’ CE Primary School and the Boundary Hall, sheltered by a timber framed canopy to allow tenants to hold outdoor workshops and open studio events.

Design by Jan Kattein Architects Ltd

Towards the northern end of the site a re-purposed double decker bus can serve as a café with hot-desking workspace on the upper deck. Outside seating and planting complement the bus cafe’s offer during the warmer months.

The footprint of the individual garage units is well-suited to creating modestly-scaled, affordable units. By keeping as much the existing structure as possible, we will minimise the environmental impact of the project.

Stay in touch

We will be using Let's Talk as a project hub, where you can find out more about how work is progressing.

If you have any specific questions, get in touch with us at towncentres@enfield.gov.uk