Emerging plans

Call for sites

The council carried out its most recent call for sites in June/July 2022. This closed on 15 July 2022. We will continue to keep our land availability under review on an annual basis until the plan is adopted. Therefore, there will be future opportunities to submit sites as part of future call for sites.

Purpose of the call for sites

The purpose of the call for sites is to help establish what land is available in the borough. It is an early opportunity for individuals, landowners and developers to suggest sites available for development within the borough for development over the next 20 years. The sites received by us will be used to inform the preparation of the new Local Plan. The land submitted will form an important part of the evidence base that underpins the spatial pattern of development included in the Local Plan.

The call for sites exercise will not determine whether a site should be allocated for development. However, it will help identify a potential pool of sites for further consideration through a range of technical work. This will help to inform future decisions on allocations in the new Local Plan.

Next steps

We are currently gathering evidence for the Local Plan. The information gained from the summer 2022 call for sites exercise will be used to produce the next version of the Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) later this year. This provides evidence of our potential land supply. We are also gathering other evidence on issues such as housing need, employment land need and retail need, amongst others. This information will feed into a future consultation on the Local Plan Review.

For more information on the Local Plan timetable, view the Local Development Scheme (PDF, 271.25 KB).

Previous call for sites

In addition to the most recent call, there have been several previous calls for sites, including between 5 December 2018 to 6 March 2020 and from 1 February 2021 to 26 February 2021.

Submitting a site

Where sites are received outside of our formal call for sites being open, the council will include sites within the next Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) update unless there are exceptional circumstances.

To submit a site, please complete the call for sites submission form (PDF, 287.49 KB). Please also contact us if a site you previously submitted is no longer available.

Submitting a site through the call for sites does not mean we will include it in our Local Plan as a site allocation or grant planning permission on it in the future. It will only give us a starting list of sites to consider.

Keep in touch on the progress of the Local Plan

If you have any questions about the Local Plan, problems accessing the documents or would like updates, email localplan@enfield.gov.uk or call 020 8379 3866.

Information about call for sites

The 'call for sites' is an early opportunity for individuals, landowners and developers to suggest sites within the borough for development over the next 20 years. The site suggestions received by us will be used to inform the preparation of the new Local Plan.

The need for additional call for sites

The ‘call for sites’ exercise is a requirement of central government planning policy and practice guidance to inform the preparation of a new Local Plan which will need to respond to assessed needs for housing, employment and other uses.

Planning policy (as set out in a Development Plan/Local Plan) is expected to identify sites for specific uses to help make sure that we can demonstrate that we have the land needed for achieving the development needs of Enfield in the right location, and at the right scale for the area in which it is located. This makes sure that both communities, and those developing these areas of land, know what is going to happen and provides greater certainty about where development is likely to take place in the borough.

Planning Policy is expected to be kept under review and to move forward to make sure that it best responds to the needs of communities and the wider environment now and into the future and reflects national planning policy objectives. The new Enfield Local Plan is under preparation. As a result of consultation, this can result in changes to the policies and the making of new land allocations. We’re reviewing how we decide how much development can go where - we call this the 'Spatial Distribution Strategy’.

Whilst we have legal powers to acquire land by what is known as 'compulsory purchase', this is a complex, expensive and long process to go through. Therefore, it is much easier if the landowner wants to develop their land to start with. So, we invite landowners to make land available for development to be considered by us.

It is really important that sites we allocate do come forward, otherwise planning applications, particularly for housing, could be made and approved in areas where we had not identified new housing to go. This undermines the principle of having a development plan, the work done by us, communities and organisations, to identify where new development should happen in that plan.

Submitting sites in a call for sites exercise

Anyone can submit a site for consideration.

A site submitter could be acting as an agent on behalf of a landowner or a developer who has a legal interest in the land. A number of the submissions we get are from agents who are familiar with the process.

Anonymous proposals cannot be accepted as we may need to contact you for further information.

Your suggestions

All proposals received will be carefully considered but it is unlikely that all sites put forward will be included in the Local Plan. If sites and suggested uses are not included, we will explain why.

Understanding our housing and employment land supply

We need to be sure that we are aware of all potential site options before we make any final decisions about which sites to include within our new Local Plan.

After submitting a call for sites

The call for sites exercise will not determine whether a site should be identified for development. This is only the start of the process and the information submitted will be made publicly available.

Following the call for sites, we will publish on our website the list of submissions we have received for various uses across the borough. Publication of any sites does not indicate that it will be allocated or will successfully obtain permission for development.

In preparing the ELP, sites will be tested through further technical work to assess their suitability, availability and achievability. The sites considered most appropriate will then be subject to further public consultation.

Housing and employment sites will be considered through the HELAA. The Plan and associated sites will go through an independent examination (like an inquiry) before it is approved by a Planning Inspector and adopted by the council.

Resubmitting, amending and withdrawing a previous submission

We are already aware of a number of sites in progress. However, we recommend that you complete a new form to make sure that we have the most up to date information on the availability and deliverability of sites for all types of development.

If you want to suggest a new site or amend the details of a previously submitted site for the HELAA, please use the form provided and send it back to us with the site plan.

Please also use the form if you want to withdraw a previously submitted site.

Objections to some of the sites proposed in the June 2021 plan

We will review and take account of all the comments submitted in helping to inform our approach to the next Local Plan. As set out in our Statement of Community Involvement, we will report back on how views expressed have been considered in a consultation statement.

It will not always be possible or appropriate to follow all the comments we receive. For example, we often get differing views or perspectives on issues, and sometimes suggestions are not in line with national planning guidance or are beyond the remit of planning.

What we mean by allocation

Our new Local Plan will eventually contain a map showing the sites ‘allocated’ to meet the need for new homes and jobs over the next 15 years.

When the new Local Plan is adopted, the sites ‘allocation’ will confirm that the principle of the development of that site for a particular use or purpose is acceptable. Sites that are allocated will still be required to obtain planning permission, and proposals for development will therefore be assessed against Local Plan policies. In spite of this, the site’s allocation should make this a more straightforward process and provides certainty about where growth and development will come forward over the next 15 years.

The HELAA

The HELAA - which stands for Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment - is an assessment of how much land might be available to accommodate future housing and economic growth in each local planning authority or broader study area. It also sets out the timescales during which potential sites might be able to come forward, looking forward at least 15 years in. Land for economic growth includes office, industrial and storage uses that might typically be found on purpose-built estates as well as retail, leisure and office uses that would be more typically found in a city or town centre. It is important to note that including a site in a HELAA does not mean that it is allocated for development or that permission will be granted.

The relationship between the call for sites and HELAA

Sites received under the call for sites will be assessed through the HELAA assessment. The HELAA provides information on potential housing and employment land supply and gives an indication of how dwelling and floorspace requirements could potentially be met.

The updated HELAA will be prepared by the LPA and with input from the development industry. The process will follow a number of stages as set out in national guidance. The HELAA is a technical assessment rather than policy. It does not make decisions or recommendations on which sites will go forward and be allocated for development. Neither does a site’s inclusion provide any indication of its acceptability for future development. For example, it does not imply that planning permission will be granted.

The HELAA will be used to inform work on the Local Plan. The decisions on whether a site will be allocated for future development will be taken in the Local Plan, which will be subject to several stages of production and public consultation.

Our use of information in the HELAA

All sites in the HELAA go through a technical appraisal, which involves the following:

Suitability - This involves an assessment of the sites against policies in the NPPF, including an assessment of the sustainability credentials of each site, such as, proximity to existing centres, services, community facilities and transport nodes/hubs. It also involves an assessment of specific site characteristics including physical limitations and high-level constraints as identified in the NPPF.
Availability - This involves an assessment of whether or not the site is available for development. A site is considered available for development, when, on the best information available (confirmed by the call for sites and information from land owners), there is confidence that there are no legal or ownership problems, such as unresolved multiple ownerships, ransom strips tenancies or operational requirements of landowners.
Achievability - This involves an as assessment of whether or not there is a reasonable prospect of development taking place on the site. This was a judgement about the economic viability of the site, so, an assessment of whether there are any abnormal costs (such as infrastructure or remedial work), that would put at serious risk the delivery of development within the time frame of the local plan review. The outcome of this assessment is an indication of the suitability and deliverability of each site.

Updating the HELAA

The preparation of the HELAA is a requirement of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and is to be prepared using the detailed guidance set out in the Planning Practice Guidance. HELAAs will be undertaken by individual districts to help determine their capacity.

The current land supply

The National Planning Policy Framework requires all local planning authorities to identify a supply of specific deliverable sites to provide 5 years' new housing supply against their requirements, as calculated under national policies. A housing trajectory is used by councils to calculate their 5-year housing land supply (5 YLS) and demonstrate whether anticipated housing delivery will meet or exceed those housing requirements.

Current year

Our 5 YHLS calculation has now been reviewed and updated. It represents the housing land supply position as of 1 April 2021 and demonstrates that the borough has 3.38 years of housing supply in the monitoring year between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.

The 5 YLS statement is updated annually. The information is correct in respect of the time period it covers, as of 1 April, but due to the nature of housing supply and delivery it is subject to change over the year. View the current land supply.

Sites in the land supply

All types of sites are in the land supply, both large and small, brownfield and greenfield.

The council is also interested in sites for family housing, self-build, custom build, low cost and specialist needs housing such as that for older persons or those with disabilities.

High level constraints and their effect on the assessment

The assessment took account of issues beyond the control of the council but which preclude development, based on the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The high-level constraints that were factored into the assessments include Sites of Scientific Interest, Ancient Woodland, Local Green Spaces, Land at high risk of flooding (Flood zone 3), Special Areas of Conservation and Ancient Monuments.

The full list of high level constraints is contained in the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) (PDF, 9521.53 KB).

Sites wholly covered by one or more of these high-level constraints were assessed as unsuitable. Parts of sites covered by high-level constraints were excluded from the developable area and the calculation of the potential yield (see below). The assessment took account of other high-level policies Conservation Areas and Listed Buildings. However, according to the NPPF and the government's Planning Practice Guidance, these do not preclude any development potential but instead affect the amount that could be deemed acceptable.

Local planning policies

The assessment is part of the evidence base for the Local Plan. It is not part of plan-making itself (that is the next stage in the process). The assessment is a technical exercise, primarily to clarify practical aspects of the sites, rather than to judge whether or not they should feature as future allocations for development in the Local Plan. For these reasons, the assessment was effectively 'local planning policies switched off'. Local policy considerations are addressed at the next stage which is when the local plan takes shape and responds to the evidence base.

Potential yield

Potential yield is an initial assessment of what each suitable and deliverable site could accommodate in terms of different types of development. For example, residential and employment. In many cases, the site promoter has provided an indicative figure. Where this has not been provided, a density multiplier is used based on the type of site. Developable area (site area in hectares), excluding high-level constraints x average dwellings per hectare.

For non-residential purposes, the potential yield is simply the developable area (site area in hectares), excluding high-level constraints.

The outcome of these calculations is by no means a final figure of what is acceptable in planning terms. If and when the sites are progressed through to the plan making stage, a more detailed assessment will be required. At that stage, planning judgements about how much of a site is appropriate for development will need to be made which might well reduce the area and yield significantly. Again, at that stage, it will be necessary to understand fully the land-take for supporting uses including schools, healthcare facilities, open space and roads. Potential yield at this stage is therefore very much a starting point for this exercise.

Outputs from the assessment

After fact checking, the assessments will provide important evidence for the preparation of the new Local Plan. The evidence will feed into the assessment of potential development strategies for the new Local Plan.

Sites assessed as available, suitable, and deliverable

The call for sites and the technical assessment of sites put forward is an important evidence source to inform plan-making but does not determine whether a site should be allocated for development. Allocation of land for development will depend upon the extent of policy and practical constraints identified in the assessment and the choices ultimately made by the council on the strategy options available. The technical assessment provides information on the range of sites which are available to meet need, but it is for the local plan itself to determine which of those sites are the most suitable to meet those needs.

Commenting and objecting to sites

The assessment is purely a technical exercise in accordance with government policy and planning practice, which means the first opportunity to comment will be during the consultation on the Local Plan. Over the next few months, members will be considering some potential options for the future development strategy and approach to site allocation. It is at this stage that people will be able to make a formal representation on what is contained in the draft local plan review.

Challenging the HELAA

The HELAA is a technical study with a specific scope and purpose. It is not a policy document. It is a snapshot of land availability at a particular point in time. The content of the HELAA should therefore be used with care, within the context in which it was intended.

The conclusions of the HELAA do not determine any decisions made on sites by the council in its role as the Local Planning Authority. Regardless of the HELAA conclusion, a land promoter could submit a proposal through the Development Management processes, such as a pre-application enquiry, planning application or an application to test a proposal against the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 (as amended).

The conclusions do not determine future policy positions or development allocations. Neighbourhood Plan groups can undertake their own HELAA to consider development opportunities within their Neighbourhood Plan area.

Any reports of inaccurate information or updates should be submitted to localplan@enfield.gov.uk for consideration.

The HELAA is a living document that will be kept under review by officers. A further public update will come before requests for updated information.

Local Development Scheme and the next stage of making the draft Local Plan

The Local Development Scheme sets out when the next stage of the draft Local Plan - known as the regulation 19 version - is anticipated. This will happen once all the necessary evidence base, and technical studies are completed, and all the outcomes have been considered in detail.

The HELAA is only one of this series of studies that will inform the level and location of development identified in the Local Plan Review.

Neighbourhood planning

What is neighbourhood planning?

Neighbourhood planning gives communities the power to shape the development and growth of their local area. The Localism Act 2011 enables local community groups, subject to certain rules, to apply to the council for designation of neighbourhood forums and neighbourhood areas.

If approval is given for both, then the forum is entitled (although not obliged) to commence the preparation of Neighbourhood Development Plans and/or Neighbourhood Development Orders. In other words, they can choose where they want new homes, shops and offices to be built, have their say on design, and specify what supporting facilities are needed. They can even obtain permission for new buildings they want to see go ahead.

Neighbourhood Development Plans must have regard to national policy and advice, and generally conform to the strategic policies of the Local Plan. The government has agreed that communities having a neighbourhood plan in place will benefit from 25% of the revenues from the Community Infrastructure Levy arising from the development in their area.

What is a neighbourhood area?

A neighbourhood area is the local area within which neighbourhood planning can take place. It has a boundary that is proposed by the community and designated by the council. It also needs to be large enough to be able to draw sufficient membership to create a neighbourhood forum.

What is a neighbourhood forum?

A neighbourhood forum is a group that leads the neighbourhood planning process in a neighbourhood area. The group must apply to the council to be designated as a neighbourhood forum. To be approved, it must meet a number of requirements. These include having a minimum of 21 members who either live or work in the neighbourhood area, or are a councillor of a ward covering that area. It should also, in general, be demographically representative of the area it covers.

Useful links

Past activity

Activity that has taken place on neighbourhood planning in Enfield is as follows:

Submission draft consultation on Hadley Wood Neighbourhood Plan (HWNP) (Regulation 16 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended)) took place between 21 December 2022 and Friday 17 February 2023
Hadley Wood Neighbourhood Plan - pre-submission consultation took place between 8 May 2022 and 3 July 2022
Hadley Wood - we approved the redesignation of the Hadley Wood Neighbourhood Forum on 18 January 2021
Hadley Wood - we approved applications to establish a neighbourhood area (with revisions), and a neighbourhood forum in the Hadley Wood area on 7 July 2015
Angel Edmonton - an application for a neighbourhood forum at Angel Edmonton was approved by us on 22 November 2016

Angel Edmonton neighbourhood planning

An application for a neighbourhood forum at Angel Edmonton was approved by Enfield Council on 22 November 2016. The application for the neighbourhood area has been withdrawn.

Details are as follows:

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