Below is the planning refusal decision by Enfield Council regarding the conversion of the former Southgate Police Station into a 65-room hostel. A massive thank you to all invovled!
Dear Sir/Madam
In accordance with the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1990 and the Orders made
thereunder, and with regard to your application at:
LOCATION: Police Station 25 Chase Side London N14 5BW
REFERENCE: 24/00732/FUL
PROPOSAL: Change of use from police station (Sui Generis) to a 65-room hostel (Sui Generis)
including associated refuse/recycling and cycle parking provisions.
ENFIELD COUNCIL, as the Local Planning Authority, give you notice that the application, as
described above, is REFUSED for the following reason(s):-
- The proposed hostel use, in the absence of adequate evidence of need or details of the group
the development is proposed to serve, absence of details of management, support services or
safeguards, is contrary to Policies GG1, GG3, SD6, H12 of the London Plan (2021), CP6 of the Enfield
Core Strategy (2010), and DMD15 of the Enfield Development Management Document (2014). - The proposed visitor accommodation, without basic guest servicing provisions, adequate
communal spaces for guests, undersized rooms, absence of servicing arrangements, lack of staff
training facilities and no wheelchair access, is contrary to policies GG1, E10 of the London Plan
(2021), CP12 of the Enfield Core Strategy (2010), and DMD31 of the Enfield Development
Management Document (2014). - The proposed development, by virtue of its inadequately sized rooms, poor internal layouts,
insufficient provision of communal amenity space, poor quality of outlook, insufficient natural light, and
absence of safety and security measures to ensure the privacy of residents, would result in
substandard and inappropriate accommodation incapable of meeting the reasonable needs of
occupiers, contrary to Policies D3, D4, D6 of the London Plan (2021), CP30 of the Enfield Core
Strategy (2010), DMD8, DMD9 and DMD37 of the Enfield Development Management Document
(2014) and the London Housing Supplementary Planning Guidance (2016). - The proposed development, not being accessible to wheelchair users or making
accommodation for access by users of diverse needs, is contrary to Policies D5 of the London Plan
(2021), CP12 of the Enfield Core Strategy (2010), DMD31 of the Enfield Development Management
Document (2014) - The proposed development, in including conflicting information suggesting the overprovision of
off street vehicle parking and in the absence of adequate cycle storage, fails to provide a secure,
convenient and high quality facility for all types of bicycles and would fail to promote or prioritise the
use of sustainable modes of transport, contrary to Policies T2, T3, T4, T6, and T7 of the London Plan
(2021), CP24 and CP25 of the Enfield Core Strategy (2010), DMD45, DMD46, DMD47 and DMD48 of
the Enfield Development Management Document (2014). - The proposed development, in the absence of adequate waste storage and servicing provision,
fails to provide a convenient and accessible facility for managing waste generated by the development
and opportunity for safe, clean, and efficient deliveries and servicing, contrary to Policies T7, D11, D12
of the London Plan (2021), CP22 of the Enfield Core Strategy (2010), DMD47, DMD48 and DMD57 of
the Enfield Development Management Document (2014). - The proposed development, failing to propose measures for safety and security, responsible
management of the accommodation and adequate support for residents, risks harm to occupants and
the surrounding community and is contrary to Policies GG1, GG3, SD6 of the London Plan (2021),
CP9, CP17 of the Enfield Core Strategy (2010), DMD37 of the Enfield Development Management
Document (2014). - The proposed development, in the absence of an adequate sustainable drainage strategy, fails
to demonstrate how proposed measures manage the risk of flooding and utilise Sustainable Urban
Drainage Systems (SuDS) following the drainage hierarchy in the London Plan, contrary to Policies SI
13 of the London Plan (2021), CP28 of the Enfield Core Strategy (2010), DMD59, DMD61 of the
Enfield Development Management Document (2014).