Enfield - EL9 Leisure Facilities and Open Space at Meridian Water

Policy information sourced from Enfield’s Edmonton Leeside Area Action Plan

EL9 Leisure Facilities and Open Space at Meridian Water

Development proposals must demonstrate:

The provision of sufficient children’s play space, including formal, informal and incidental playable space in larger areas of open space; this provision should be in proportion to the quantum of residential development proposed, having regard to the relevant Enfield and London approach to calculating children’s play space requirements;
That children’s play space is safe and accessible and not shared with inappropriate uses such as vehicular traffic;
The provision of sufficient open space within Meridian Water, including parks and linear spaces which incorporate a wide variety of uses and amenities; this should be in proportion to the quantum of residential development proposed; or how provision can be met through improvements to the accessibility and quality of existing open space;
That opportunities for new waterspaces to support leisure uses within Meridian Water have been considered where appropriate;
How they will avoid negative impacts such as recreational disturbance on sites of ecological importance, including the Chingford Reservoirs SSSI and Lee Valley Special Protection Area/ Ramsar site at Walthamstow Reservoirs;
How they will assess, avoid and/or mitigate negative impacts on Epping Forest SAC, Lee Valley SPA or other designated areas of conservation or protection, for example from recreational pressure or due to traffic impacts in relation to air quality; appropriate assessment and measures should be determined in consultation with the Council and Natural England;
That potential at the open space for SUDs and flood storage has been explored, in line with policy EL8;
That habitat is incorporated to enhance biodiversity;
Where there is evidence of need, the provision of formal playing fields;
That options for community agriculture, and urban farm and other food growing-opportunities have been explored; and
Where the location is suitable, that new waterspaces and wetland habitat is incorporated, which enhances biodiversity and includes boardwalks and pontoons to provide access.

Banbury Reservoir

The Council will work with Thames Water and the London Borough of Waltham Forest to explore options for Banbury Reservoir, including:

Improved pedestrian access around the reservoir, including a fitness trail around the reservoir boundary, with green links and connections to South Chingford and Higham Hill; and
Boating and water sports activities to create a leisure destination, subject to Thames Water agreement, in line with considerations regarding operational and structural requirements and public health and safety.

This policy should be read in conjunction with Core Strategy policies 30,33,34,35, 37 and 38 and DMD policies 71 to 83.

For more information please see the Edmonton Leeside Area Action Plan