It is recognised that as North East Enfield’s population increases over the coming years the existing community facilities, including health facilities and schools in surrounding areas, will be placed under greater pressure. The provision of new and improved facilities must be planned and delivered in parallel with the construction of new homes. The Hertford Road will continue to play an important role as a hub for community activity.
7.1.1 This AAP is supported by updated work looking at what community facilities will be required in the area during the lifetime of the plan. In summary these are:
7.1.2 Education: The area is well served at secondary school level, and Enfield College is a major asset to the area. There is unlikely to be a need for additional secondary places before 2023 due to the recent increase in provision from academies in the area. At primary school level, recent increases in academy provision have ensured that the rising demand for places can be met until at least 2018. The projected school-age population statistics and provision of pupil places information are reviewed annually so that any changes can be addressed. If there is a significant school-age population increase during the lifetime of this AAP, the provision of extra capacity at education facilities may be required.
7.1.3 Providing for primary school expansion: The 2014 release of the GLA school roll projections show that there is not expected to be pressure on available and currently planned primary capacity until 2021. Demand is expected to outstrip supply from then but there is at least one local authority maintained primary school that can be expanded to provide more capacity, which is expected to meet demand up to 2023. The Council reviews this position on an annual basis and if the demand for primary places is projected to exceed available capacity in schools options to provide that capacity are investigated. The two main options for increasing capacity are the opening of academies or free schools, over which the Council has little control, or the expansion of existing Council funded schools. If the expansion of a Council school is required then the expansion plans are subject to consultation before final decisions are taken on delivery.
7.1.4 Providing for secondary school expansion: For secondary provision, demand will outstrip current capacity from 2018 but there is an agreed proposal for a secondary academy (ARK North Enfield) in the area. A site has now been identified and the Education Funding Agency are working with the academy provider to deliver the school. It is expected that the new academy will deliver more than enough capacity to meet demand until 2023. Current and future capacity and demand will continue to be reviewed on an annual basis and where necessary the provision of extra capacity will be investigated.
Policy Context for Chapter 7: Community Facilities and Services |
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London Plan |
Policy 3.16: Protection and
enhancement of social
infrastructure Policy 3.17 Health and social care
facilities Policy 3.18 Education Facilities Policy 3.19 Sports Facilities |
Upper Lee Valley Opportunity Area Planning Framework (July 2013) |
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Core Strategy (Adopted Nov 2010) |
Policy 7: Health and social care
facilities Policy 8: Education Policy 9: Supporting community
cohesion Policy 11: Recreat |
Adopted Development Management Document (November 2014) |
Policy DMD16 Provision of New
Community Facilities Policy DMD17 Protection of
Community Facilities Policy DMD18 Early Years Provision |
Other Sources |
National Planning Policy Guidance Joint Strategic Needs Assessment Infrastructure Delivery Plan April
2013 Enfield Children and Young People’s
Plan 2011-2015 The Drive Toward Prosperity– Enfield’s Child and Family Poverty
Strategy, 2012 Education: Primary Expansion
Programme - various Cabinet Papers
2012 - 2013 Enfield Safer and Stronger
Communities board Partnership
Plan, 2012-13 NEE AAP Baseline Update (Tibbalds), 2013 |
7.1.5 Childcare Facilities: Ongoing commitment is required from the Council to childcare / Early Years funding to address the needs of working parents and enable people back to work. The planned extension of the Early Years Scheme and its success relies on certainty around long-term funding and careful planning of the location of services (e.g. near places of work in the Borough) and accessibility.
7.1.6 Community facilities: NEEA comprises of a diverse population, in terms of age and ethnicity compared to the rest of the Borough. There a number of community facilities provided across the borough. The NEE area is currently served by four community centres/halls; three youth clubs and one sports club. These are located fairly unevenly across the area. Residents of Ponders End for instance, have good accessibility to youth clubs but are limited vicinity to community halls. With the proposed increase in housing and the growth of the population, it is anticipated that an additional community hall will be required within the lifetime of this AAP and potentially another swimming pool.
7.1.7 An expansion of community facilities in the Ponders End area is likely to be the preferred location to cater for the increasing community and cultural needs in the area.
7.1.8 Healthcare facilities: The British Medical Association standard for the number of GP’s required is 1 per 1800 people. The existing number of GP’s in Enfield broadly meets the current NHS standard. However, taking account of the Borough’s growth agenda, the projected increase in population will result in a need for approximately an additional 25 GP’s, nurses and other primary care staff within the Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) period.
7.1.9 The regeneration of the Alma Estate will help meet these requirements through the delivery of a new neighbourhood health centre and a modern GP practice as part of a proposed community hub in Ponders End High Street.
7.1.10 Other opportunities: In addition to these requirements, this AAP identifies opportunities to improve existing facilities:
Policy 7.1: Providing community facilities The Council will continue to monitor the need for community facilities to support both the existing and future population for North East Enfield. The Council will:
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 Existing community facilities on South Street |
 The Ordnance Unity Centre is under construction on the corner of Hertford Road and Ordnance Road |
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