Residents and local businesses in Enfield Town will reap the benefits of the completion of the new global headquarters for cloud communications company Metaswitch.
In a first for Enfield Council, the local authority played a pivotal role in both sourcing the new site and funding the building project at Genotin Road, supporting Metaswitch’s expansion plans which in turn will benefit the town centre.
Metaswitch, which is now owned by technology giant Microsoft, is ready to open its offices at Genotin Road once safe to do so. The five storey, energy-efficient building can accommodate 500 people. Enfield Council will lease the commercial property to Metaswitch on a 15 year term. Income generated from the lease will be put back into funding and enhancing local services.
The Council has negotiated a Car Park Management Agreement with Metaswitch, allowing shoppers and visitors to the town centre use of up to 96 car parking spaces during evenings and weekends, in support of the evening economy, once COVID-19 restrictions are eased. Twenty charging points will also be available for electric vehicles, which is an important step in delivering the Council’s climate action targets.
Enfield Council’s Leader, Cllr Nesil Caliskan said: “This is a fantastic example of how proactive the Council can be in supporting existing businesses to flourish. The success of this project will, I am certain, open the doors to further dialogue with other businesses. We want to work closely together to understand local employers’ ambitions and requirements and see where we can help to make their visions a reality while retaining their presence in the borough.
“This latest development complements the Council’s wide-reaching inward investment, regeneration plans and support for employment at a time when the local economy needs as much support as possible.”
As well as working closely with businesses, Enfield Council has also been talking to residents, businesses, key stakeholders and community groups on development plans for Enfield Town. Following earlier engagement in 2019 on the future of Enfield Town, last year the Let’s Talk Enfield Town project gathered feedback from hundreds of people through a series of workshops and an online survey on the proposed plan for the town centre. The project heard about how the community would like to see investment in Enfield Town for it to become a more vibrant place while respecting it’s unique character.
Ideas discussed included improving the environment for pedestrians and bus stop accessibility, creating a better connection between Library Green and Enfield Town Park and creating new and improved public spaces. The outcome of the Let’s Talk Enfield Town engagement will be available soon from the Let’s Talk Enfield hub .