Southgate Town Centre

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The Journeys and Places team at Enfield Council has been continually engaging with Southgate’s local community on the challenges and opportunities that are present in this historical Town Centre. Our Team will be delivering a series of interventions throughout 2024 which will be the first step in the development of a new longer-term vision for Southgate, created in collaboration with the local community.

Southgate is one of Enfield’s main town centres, with good connections to central London and nearby green spaces, rich 1930s heritage architecture, prominent buildings with redevelopment potential, and strong local cultural and community partners. However, the Town Centre is currently affected by a series of challenges that have contributed to the creation of an unwelcoming environment for residents and visitors.

In 2024, the Council will be delivering improvements across Southgate to make the everyday experience of the Town Centre more welcoming and vibrant for people who live, work and visit there. These interventions aim to improve key routes for people walking to, from and around Southgate, and enhance the public realm with greenery and public art to transform the Town Centre, and will include:

  • two new ‘parklets’ that will introduce greenery and public seating in Ashfield Parade
  • enhancement of the Pocket Park near the Bus Station to create a space where people can gather and spend time together
  • rain gardens along the wide footpaths of Chase Side to mitigate the impact of surface water runoff and bring nature into a very congested area of the Town Centre
  • Vibrant, colourful public artwork displayed temporarily in the windows of Southgate Library that celebrates Southgate’s horticultural heritage, created by local artist Dan Maier for the Festival of Industry programme
  • Portrait of Southgate: a new arts trail created by artists Alex McHallam and Liz Tiranti featuring a series of mosaics celebrating Southgate’s art deco architecture and local heroes. Portrait of Southgate is curated by local residents as part of the council’s Curate Enfield public art programme.

Throughout the year we want to hear from local people about what you want to see in the future for Southgate Town Centre to inform a masterplan to be delivered over the coming years as funding becomes available. More information on future events and opportunities can be found under ‘Key dates’ to the right-hand side of this project page, and updates will be posted regularly in the ‘Project updates’ section below.

Please input your ideas for future town centre projects on the map below and if you have any feedback or questions contact the Journeys and Places team at journeysandplaces@enfield.gov.uk.

The Journeys and Places team at Enfield Council has been continually engaging with Southgate’s local community on the challenges and opportunities that are present in this historical Town Centre. Our Team will be delivering a series of interventions throughout 2024 which will be the first step in the development of a new longer-term vision for Southgate, created in collaboration with the local community.

Southgate is one of Enfield’s main town centres, with good connections to central London and nearby green spaces, rich 1930s heritage architecture, prominent buildings with redevelopment potential, and strong local cultural and community partners. However, the Town Centre is currently affected by a series of challenges that have contributed to the creation of an unwelcoming environment for residents and visitors.

In 2024, the Council will be delivering improvements across Southgate to make the everyday experience of the Town Centre more welcoming and vibrant for people who live, work and visit there. These interventions aim to improve key routes for people walking to, from and around Southgate, and enhance the public realm with greenery and public art to transform the Town Centre, and will include:

  • two new ‘parklets’ that will introduce greenery and public seating in Ashfield Parade
  • enhancement of the Pocket Park near the Bus Station to create a space where people can gather and spend time together
  • rain gardens along the wide footpaths of Chase Side to mitigate the impact of surface water runoff and bring nature into a very congested area of the Town Centre
  • Vibrant, colourful public artwork displayed temporarily in the windows of Southgate Library that celebrates Southgate’s horticultural heritage, created by local artist Dan Maier for the Festival of Industry programme
  • Portrait of Southgate: a new arts trail created by artists Alex McHallam and Liz Tiranti featuring a series of mosaics celebrating Southgate’s art deco architecture and local heroes. Portrait of Southgate is curated by local residents as part of the council’s Curate Enfield public art programme.

Throughout the year we want to hear from local people about what you want to see in the future for Southgate Town Centre to inform a masterplan to be delivered over the coming years as funding becomes available. More information on future events and opportunities can be found under ‘Key dates’ to the right-hand side of this project page, and updates will be posted regularly in the ‘Project updates’ section below.

Please input your ideas for future town centre projects on the map below and if you have any feedback or questions contact the Journeys and Places team at journeysandplaces@enfield.gov.uk.

  • 9th March - Southgate Launches Event

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    The Southgate Launches event was held on the 9th of March with approximately 80 people attending throughout the day at 3 different locations. The event was an opportunity to celebrate the newly completed projects and present the other interventions that the Council will be delivering in Southgate throughout 2024, as well as hear from local people about what they would like to see in the future for Southgate to inform a longer-term vision for the Town Centre. The event was delivered in partnership with Festival of Industry, Southgate Library, Ashfield Parade businesses, ECYPS, Doodle Design, Southgate District Civic Voice and Southgate Club.

    The following two projects were launched as part of the event.

    Southgate Library Temporary Artwork

    A colourful temporary public artwork in the windows of Southgate Library, celebrating Southgate’s horticultural heritage created by local artist Dan Maier for the Festival of Industry programme. Local residents were involved in workshops at the library to learn more about the inspiration behind the artwork and to share their ideas

    Ashfield Parade Parklets

    Two parklets have been installed in Ashfield Parade, with the aim of Introducing greenery and public seating to improve the quality of the public realm along a key route into Southgate Town Centre. Local young people have developed ideas for the decoration of the parklets during a workshop which took place at Alan Pulinger Youth Centre in February as part of ECYPS TeenScheeme programme. During the launch event the participants to the workshop presented their design and were awarded AQA certificates.


    Following the launch events a community engagement session on of future projects in Southgate Town Centre took place at the Southgate Club. This included:

    Presentation of the Guidance for planning outdoor community events

    This document has been published to provide support to any community groups which don’t have any previous experience in organising small events. The Guidance empowers residents and community groups to take positive action in their neighbourhoods, building social capital and networks which help make the borough better for everyone.

    A printable version of the guidance can be found here: Guidance for Planning Outdoor Community Events

    Presentation of upcoming projects to be delivered in Southgate in 2024

    These include:

    • The enhancement of the Pocket Park, improving planting and public realm to create a space where people can gather and spend time together
    • The introduction of rain gardens along Chase Side to mitigate the impact of surface water runoff and bring nature into a very congested area
    • Portrait of Southgate: a new arts trail featuring a series of mosaics celebrating Southgate’s art deco architecture and local heroes.

    Engagement on Southgate longer-term vision

    Council officers heard from the local community and stakeholders about concerns and opportunities in the Town Centre


    Thank you to all those who attended.

  • Two new parklets installed in Ashfield Parade

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    Two new parklets have now been installed in Ashfield Parade following construction in February.

    Designed by an Kattein Architects following consolation with local residents and businesses, the parklets are part of a series of integrated interventions that Enfield Council will deliver in the Town Centre throughout 2024. These will improve key pedestrian routes and enhance the public realm using greenery and public art, to transform the Town Centre. These interventions are the first step in the development of a new longer-term vision for Southgate conceived collaboratively with the local community.

    The art piece installed on the parklets was developed by the young people of Southgate at a workshop held earlier this year at Alan Pullinger Youth Centre during ECYPS TeenScheme programme. Inspired by myths and stories of the ancient woodland of Enfield Chase, the local young people shared their own memories about the personal significance of nature & trees and co-created their own modern folklore of Southgate, which is now illustrated on the parklets.





  • Join us to launch new projects in Southgate

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    Enfield Council will be delivering improvements across Southgate throughout 2024 to make the everyday experience of the Town Centre more welcoming and vibrant for people who live, work and visit there. These interventions aim to improve key routes for people walking to, from and around Southgate, and enhance the public realm with greenery and public art to transform the Town Centre.

    The first interventions to be completed in February are:

    • two new ‘parklets’ that will introduce greenery and public seating in Ashfield Parade, to welcome more diverse people into this area, introducing shade, shelter as well as places to stop and rest.
    • a vibrant, colourful public artwork displayed temporarily in the windows of Southgate Library that celebrates Southgate’s horticultural heritage, created by local artist Dan Maier for the Festival of Industry programme


    The Journeys and Places Team invites the local community to celebrate the launch of these two projects at a community event that will take place on Saturday 9 March 2024 across three locations: Southgate Library, Ashfield Parade and Southgate Club.

    The event will be an opportunity to celebrate the newly completed projects and present the other interventions that the Council will be delivering in Southgate throughout 2024 as well as hear from local people what they would like to see in the future for Southgate to inform a longer-term vision for the Town Centre.

    Should you wish to join us along the way, the order of events are as follows:

    10am to 11.30am at Southgate Library - High St, N14 6BP

    Join artist Dan Maier for a drop-in activity to create a unique bunting for the library, inspired by the iconic Cuthbert’s Seeds packet designs. Visitors of all ages can join the community production line as we assemble the bunting to celebrate the launch of Dan’s artwork at 12pm.

    12pm – Southgate Library - High St, N14 6BP

    Inauguration of a new artwork by local artist Dan Maier that celebrates Southgate’s horticultural heritage as part of the Festival of Industry programme.

    1pm – Ashfield Parade – N14 5EH

    Inauguration of Ashfield Parade parklets and presentation of the drawings developed by local young people at ECYPS as part of the project.

    2pm – Southgate Club - 17 Chase Side, N14 5BP

    Presentation of future projects to be delivered in the coming months in Southgate Town Centre and refreshments.

    We look forward to seeing you at the event on Saturday 9 March! You do not need to register, please just come along.

  • Workshop at Alan Pullinger Youth Centre

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    The Journeys and Places Team partnered with ECYPS, Doodle Design and Jan Kattein Architects to involve young people from Southgate in developing ideas for an artwork to decorate two new parklets that are being installed in Ashfield Parade.

    A workshop took place on 12th and 13th February at Alan Pullinger youth centre and provided the young participants with the opportunity to understand & follow a rigorous process when designing a piece of public art. They learned how to respond to a brief, how to research and develop design concepts and how to use different materials and techniques to present their ideas. At the end of the two days, they handed over their work to an artist from The Matchbox collective who will install the artwork on the parklets in the coming weeks.

    The workshop provided a platform for local young people to share their own memories about the personal significance of nature & trees. Inspired by myths and stories of the ancient woodland of Enfield Chase, they co-created their own modern folklore of Southgate which will be illustrated on the parklets.

    ECYPS provided an AQA accreditation for all the young people that engaged on the project, which will be presented at the parklets’ launch event on 9th March.


  • Parklets Design Workshop - Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th February 2024 at Alan Pullinger

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    Enfield Council is delivering 2 new parklets in Ashfield Parade and it is partnering with ECYPS, Doodle Design and Jan Kattein Architects to involve young people from Southgate (aged between 11 and 17) in developing ideas for their design. The ideas will then be given to an artist who will install them on the parklets.

    The design workshop will be held at Alan Pullinger N14 6BT on Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th February 2024 from 10 am to 3 pm. This 2 day project will run at the same time as TeenScheme.

    Please fill out the consent form at the link below to indicate which days you want to attend: http://tinyurl.com/ycxartux



  • Greening Chase Side Engagement Session

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    On Thursday 11th January, the second engagement session for the Greening Chase Side project took place in the front Gallery of the Southgate Club.

    Following the feedback we received during the walkabout in October, our Team presented initial ideas for green improvements along the sidewalks of Chase Side.

    The event was an opportunity to discuss these with local stakeholders and residents and to identify a few preferred sites where our Team will now develop a concept design for the installation of raingardens.

    The project is part of a series of integrated interventions to improve the everyday experience of the local community and develop a shared vision for Southgate Town Centre.

  • Portrait of Southgate: New Arts Trail being developed for Southgate Town Centre

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    As part of our Curate Enfield public art programme, mosaic artists Alex McHallam and Liz Tiranti have been selected by local residents to create an arts trail celebrating local heroes and the art deco architecture of Southgate Town Centre. The trail will consist of three mosaic pieces located at Southgate Library, the green planting area at the junction of Winchmore Hill Road and Chase Road and at various junctures along Chase Side.


    Over March and April the artists will be delivering creative workshops with local schools and communities to generate ideas and content for the artworks (dates to be announced soon), with the aim of installing and launching the new arts trail in September 2024.


    Portrait of Southgate is happening in the first phase of public realm interventions in Southgate, to support a longer-term vision for the town centre as a place where:

    • Communities come together to enjoy Southgate's diverse offer and its green and attractive public realm

    • Local businesses have a voice and a strong identity

    • Active travel routes connect the Town Centre to green spaces and other parts of the Borough.


    Please do keep checking the Southgate Lets Talk page for further project updates.




  • Greening Chase Side Walkabout - Your Feedback

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    A walkabout along Chase Side took place on Saturday 7th October in Southgate, attended by residents, businesses and Ward Councillors.

    The event was an opportunity to explore the possibility of installing green areas on the wide footpaths of Chase Side to improve the public realm and develop a green, vibrant and inclusive Southgate.

    Council officers gathered feedback and ideas from local stakeholders and will now begin developing a feasibility study which will be presented back to the local community in another event in mid-January.

    The project is part of a series of integrated interventions to improve the everyday experience of the local community and develop a shared vision for Southgate Town Centre.


  • Southgate Pocket Park

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    Following walkabouts and engagement sessions which took place in Southgate Town Centre in 2022, the Pocket Park near the Bus Station was identified as a priority site for public realm improvements in Southgate.

    In the last few months, Jan Kattein Architects have been working on a concept design for the meanwhile improvement of this area based on the feedback they received from the public, focusing on enhancing the green space and the seating areas while creating a space where families and kids can gather and spend time together. By 'meanwhile' improvement we are referring to a project which will be on site for a few years to test new potential uses of the space and to inform a more radical transformation of the area in the future.

    The design for this space celebrates the history of Southgate as the southern gate to the Enfield Chase between the 12th and the 19th centuries. It also links to the major landscape recovery scheme the Council is currently delivering in Enfield Chase with the aim of restoring rivers, wetland and create publicly accessible woodland.

    Natural oak felled trees with carved seating and sculptural qualities will encourage visitors to explore and meander through the site along an interactive ‘trail’ that teaches them about the history of Enfield Chase. It will celebrate the significance of Enfield Chase to the history of Southgate Town Centre, while enhancing existing seating areas and green space.

    Jan Kattein Architects presented the design during the 90th Anniversary Celebration of Southgate Station in March 2023, receiving positive feedback from the local community and Transport for London.

    The project will be delivered in the first half of 2024.

  • Ashfield Parade Improvements

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    The Place Shaping Team in Journeys and Places has been working in collaboration with Jan Kattein Architects to develop a proposal for public realm meanwhile improvements in Ashfield Parade, to introduce greenery and public seating.

    This design proposal follows an engagement process with Ashfield Parade businesses which begun in December 2022. During the engagement sessions, business owners shared their ambition for Ashfield Parade to become greener, more attractive and safer particularly for families and women.

    The design proposal introduces greenery and public seating to improve the quality of public realm along a key route into the town centre to welcome more diverse customers on Ashfield Parade and to test the potential for reducing traffic congestion on a small scale.

    The project will be delivered in March 2024 via an 18 month long Experimental Traffic Order, with an initial 6 month statutory consultation for local people to provide their feedback.

    The delivery of these interventions is an opportunity to continue the conversation with the local community, to develop forms of stewardships of the public realm and to inform wider future plans for Southgate Town Centre.

    The next meeting to present a detailed proposal to residents and businesses will take place in October 2023.

Page last updated: 18 Mar 2024, 10:49 AM