Chase Side rain gardens and Pocket Park Construction
Enfield Council is delivering a series of interventions across Southgate throughout 2024. Delivered by the Journeys and Places programme, this will be the first step in the development of a new longer-term vision for Southgate, created in collaboration with the local community. The interventions will improve key walking routes and enhance the public realm with greenery and public art.
We are soon going to be introducing three rain gardens along the footway on Chase Side and making improvements to the green area or ‘Pocket Park’ that sits adjacent to the bus station.
Chase Side rain gardens
Rain gardens are a form of Sustainable Urban Drainage (SuDS), designed to manage and mitigate the impact of surface water run-off. They will bring some nature into a very congested area of the Town Centre. Based on the feedback from the walkabout last year with the local community and businesses, our team has identified three areas where the designed rain gardens will be installed:
- in front of Classy Cleaners, 26 Chase Side N14;
- in front of Ellinikon Bakery, 42 Chase Side N14; and
- by the bus stop in front of the Kodak Express, 59 Chase Side N14.
This project aims to respond to some of the concerns raised by members of the local community about Chase Side having an unpleasant environment for people walking, and a lack of green space. These rain gardens will help to provide a space where people can feel more connected to nature and at ease amidst a heavily congested environment.
Details of the proposal
Rain gardens are a type of SuDS, which stands for Sustainable Drainage System, and are designed to manage and mitigate the impact of surface water runoff in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner.
They have a number of benefits:
- Flood risk reduction: Rain Gardens help to control and reduce the risk of flooding by slowing and managing surface water runoff. This can help protect properties and infrastructure during heavy rainfall events.
- Water quality improvements: SuDS systems filter and treat runoff water, removing pollutants and sediments before it enters river and other water bodies.
- Biodiversity enhancement: SuDS incorporate green spaces and natural elements that provide habitat for wildlife and promotes biodiversity in urban areas
Enfield Council will regularly maintain these rain gardens, but local businesses and residents are welcome to participate in the upkeep of the planting to help them to flourish.
The construction of the rain gardens will take place between Monday 16 September to Monday 28 October 2024. This will require the temporary closure of some car parking spaces and a bus stop during the period of construction.
Pocket Park
We will also be delivering improvements to the green area adjacent to the bus station and Southgate Tube Station to turn this into a Pocket Park that offers a space for play and rest for children and families. The concept for the Pocket Park has been developed collaboratively with the community through a series of engagement events.
The Pocket Park will feature bespoke carved log seating units, new attractive planting as well as playful features that celebrate Southgate’s history. These features form an educational trail for the children which will encourage a sense of both play and learning.
The construction of the Pocket Park will take place between Monday 7 to Monday 28 October 2024. This will require the temporary closure of some car parking spaces on Crownfield Lane for three weeks.
We understand that construction works of this nature can cause some disruption and we apologise for any inconvenience caused. We and our contractor work hard to ensure that disruption is minimised where possible whilst the works are undertaken.
