Fears over antisocial behaviour, safety concerns and how the hostel would be managed were cited as reasons for refusing the controversial scheme
Southgate Police Station (credit Google)Southgate Police Station (credit Google)
Plans for a 65-room hostel to be created within the former Southgate Police Station building have been rejected by Enfield Council.
The scheme had drawn local controversy over fears it would exacerbate already high levels of antisocial behaviour in Chase Side, and was opposed by all three local Conservative councillors, as well as drawing 282 local objections. It was also strongly criticised by the Metropolitan Police.
In a report from the council’s planning team, published this week, officers explained the reasons for refusing the scheme and said: “Due to the hostel use being proposed without evidence of need, clear indication of whom the hostel is intended to serve, how it will be managed, what support will be provided to occupants and what safeguards will be put in place in the interest of occupants and surrounding communities, the hostel use is not supported.
“The hotel use, without basic guest servicing provisions, a shortage communal spaces for guests and cramped rooms, cannot be supported as a hotel use that is compatible with the Southgate town centre. The proposed quality of accommodation, whether for a hostel or hotel, is of a poor quality and is not supported.
“The application fails to meet accessibility requirements. Drawings indicate parking provision without supporting information or site access, and an insufficient level of cycle parking provision – the proposal is not supported on transportation grounds. The proposal lacks functional servicing and waste collection arrangements.”
They added that the Met Police had “cited safety concerns that the proposal fails to mitigate”.
In its objection the Met warned: “The proposal gives cause for concern as the address is at the epicentre of the area most responsible for the highest levels of recorded crime within the ward of Southgate.
“Crime prevention, safety, security, in particular concerns for the safety of lone women and young girls has not been addressed within the planning statement and the drawings offer more questions regarding the physical security of the proposed rooms/pods.
“The communal entrance does not have any consideration for access control, CCTV or physical security measures. Any inclination to value engineer the project will add to the existing high levels of recorded crime and contribute to increased opportunity for crime and antisocial behaviour at this location, putting its existing and new residents, and the potential lack of compartmentation within the communal areas could assist with the free movement through the communal parts, which is a key factor in domestic violence offences.”
The rejection of the scheme proposed by developer Log Creation Ltd has been welcomed by Conservative councillors in Southgate. Chris Joannides said: “It’s clearly an emotive application from the amount of correspondence we have received from residents and local businesses.
“Everyone agrees that the current former police station is an eyesore on Southgate High Street for many years and some form of development is needed, but that should not mean that anything goes.
“We need to get the right type of development which respects the area and living conditions of local residents.”
