Enfield Council has secured £156 million from national government to create improved train services, new roads and environmental enhancements for its 10,000 home Meridian Water regeneration scheme.
The borough becomes the first in London to be be awarded funds from the housing infrastructure fund (HIF), which is allocated by the ministry of housing, communities and local government.
The money will be spent on a “boulevard” running along the site’s east-west axis, transporting pedestrians, cyclists and motor vehicles from the recently-opened Meridian Water station and on enabling the frequency of the trains serving it to increase to eight an hour. The council also promises to create two new parks, cycle lanes, “naturalised brooks” and extra bridges.
The HIF money follows Enfield’s decision to abandon previous arrangements for redeveloping the area in the Upper Lee Valley, which entailed working with a single master developer, and instead appointing partners for one phase of the programme at a time. In May, Galliford Try were selected to build the first phase of over 700 homes close to the new station, reactivating a scheme that had become stalled.
The infrastructure money will give a further big boost to the project, which council leader Nesil Caliskan says has finally got going due to more direct involvement from the Town Hall. Enfield has bought most of the developable land since 2014 Caliskan says it has now invested more than £250 million of its own money to “drive this project forward”.
She adds: “This scheme is about providing thousands of new affordable homes and quality jobs in Enfield as well as new schools, community and health services, nurseries, shops and youth and leisure facilities. Well connected places improve life chances. The improved connectivity that comes with this enhanced infrastructure will help local people take advantage of services, jobs and opportunities right across London.”
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“250 million of it’s own money” ?? not the tax payers then….
what about all the businesses that have been removed from the site with the demolition?
what about the clear up bill for the fly tipping? the 24hr security because of bad management of the site?… tax payers wasted money
vanity project through & through….