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

NC Policy 7 Building Heights and Development Densities

Building heights should generally respect and respond positively to local context. Taller buildings are generally only considered appropriate within identified centres across the AAP area as these locations are considered more sustainable. Taller buildings should positively support the legibility and economic vibrancy of these centres and the area generally whilst protecting the amenities of existing residents and businesses. There are also a number of points of transition across the AAP area where taller building would help aid legibility and could, if carefully planned, help mitigate the environmental impact on existing communities of the road corridor. Away from these appropriate locations, new development should not exceed the predominant building height in the local vicinity, and in most cases this will be two storeys.

With the exception of significant parts of the New Southgate area, the NCAAP area is generally characterised by low rise residential development. Core Policy 4 highlights the importance of ensuring new housing is of a sufficiently high standard of design. Responding positively to the context of a site is a key issue in this regard. Further guidance is provided under Core Policy 30 where special regard to a site’s context is identified as critical to success. The importance given to delivering good design in new development is reflected in DMD Policy 37: Achieving High Quality Design and Design-Led Development. DMD Policy 43: Tall Buildings relates specifically to tall buildings and the policy above is in accordance with the guidance contained in that policy.

Enfield Council recently prepared an evidence base report on tall buildings and important local views. The study assesses the suitability of different locations for tall buildings. The Ladderswood Estate and Western Gateway site area, given the existing tall buildings in the area, are identified as appropriate locations for tall buildings. In addition, two important local views are relevant to the NCAAP. View 4 looking south from Broomfield Park towards Alexandra Palace and the City of London is recognised alongside the view of New Southgate Station also looking towards Alexandra Palace.

Beyond the guidance put forward in the New Southgate Masterplan which does support the provision of some tall buildings within this Regeneration Priority Area, there are no other locations or sites considered appropriate for tall buildings across the NCAAP area. Within this context, it may therefore be appropriate for building heights on high quality new development to be one or two storeys above neighbouring buildings in locations considered appropriate under this policy and subject to the criteria under other relevant policy. These locations are within the identified commercial centres across the AAP area and at the identified points of transition along the A406 corridor itself.

The development of back gardens and backland areas has been raised as an issue during the preparation of the AAP. The Council’s position on back garden and backland development is set out in DMD Policy 7: Development of Garden Land which makes clear the Council’s presumption against new residential development on garden land.

An exception to this policy is the land between the southern boundary of Broomfield Secondary School and Bowes Road. Garages were previously accessed along an informal lane but in view of the character of the local area and the relationship between the site and the secondary school, development of mews-style housing at the back of this site is considered to meet the criteria under DMD Policy 7.

For more information please see the North Circular Area Action Plan