Policy information sourced from Enfield’s North Circular Area Action Plan

NC Policy 25 Green Lanes Neighbourhood Place

Key principles that will guide change in the Green Lanes neighbourhood place are as follows:

  • Development sites - the following development sites are identiRed which have the scope to deliver a mix of uses including new high quality housing, employment uses, community facilities and new retail development.
    • Southgate Town Hall site;
    • Green Lanes north sites;
    • Green Lanes/A406 junction site north west;
    • Green Lanes/A406 junction site north east;
    • Green Lanes/A406 junction site south west;
    • Green Lanes/A406 junction site south east; • Birchwood Court sites.

Across these sites there is potential for approximately 135 additional new dwellings supported by a range of commercial and other uses.

  • Townscape - protection of and improvement to the Green Lanes commercial frontage is a priority, particularly south of the A406 junction. The strengthening of the junction with the A406 in townscape terms is another priority through the mixed use redevelopment of opportunity sites on the north side of the junction.
  • Activities - New development which strengthens the commercial uses along Green Lanes both north and south of the A406 will be strongly encouraged. Existing community uses should be maintained and supported wherever possible, with any refurbishment of buildings retaining community use.
  • Public realm and open space - the public realm along Green Lanes should be improved. Green routes in the area should be strengthened, particularly the New River Path and other waterway routes. New development in areas of open space deficiency will be required to improve access to existing open space network. The waterside spaces along the New River corridor are o priority in this regard.
  • Infrastructure - the significant planned residential growth in this area must be supported by appropriate contributions to the provision of community infrastructure in accordance with NC Policy 4 and NC Policy 5 above.

This general policy should be read in conjunction with more specific policies for larger/more significant development sites within the Green Lanes neighbourhood place.

Green Lanes is one of London’s longest and oldest high streets. This stretch of Green Lanes is varied with the southern end being part of the extensive commercial high street that stretches south to Wood Green and continues to Newington Green. There are continual, largely independent, commercial uses leading north up to the junction with the A406. On the north side of the junction this continuity is broken by some residential uses and more generally the street edge weakens and in this location Green Lanes no longer operates as a local high street.

The sites around the junction present the most significant development opportunities although ownership is mixed and generally fragmented which will make bringing the sites forward more difficult. The commercial sites on the south side are in reasonable condition with few vacancies and the buildings are occupied by residential uses on upper floors. The street benefits from a strong building line and both sides of the street contribute well to the local high street character. On the north side of the road the high street character is far less strong and the street is much weaker as a result. Whilst ownerships will again be fragmented, Green Lanes would benefit from these sites coming forward in the longer term and in doing so they would present a valuable opportunity to strengthen the role of this important junction.

The junction is identified as a point of transition along the North Circular Road corridor. It is a key junction and acts as an important point of orientation. This role could be strengthened with the redevelopment of the sites on the north side if they came forward. The area around the junction is one of the more accessible locations in the Borough with a PTAL rating of 4. This, combined with the wide range of retail and community services and facilities along Green Lanes makes the location a highly sustainable one for new development.

Other key sites include the Southgate Town Hall which has potential for ongoing community uses and some new residential development.

For more information please see the North Circular Area Action Plan