Journeys and Places plan to transform Enfield Town centre

The next stage in a project to make Enfield Town centre safer, greener, more vibrant, and less car-dominant will get underway this autumn.

As part of The Enfield Town Liveable Neighbourhood project, delivered by Enfield Council’s Journeys and Places programme, new cycle lanes, a 24-hour bus lane and a red route are planned to be installed, and footways are proposed to be widened and improved.

The work, due to start in October, marks phase two of the project, which began in 2019.

Other changes include proposals to re-configure pedestrian crossings, and introduce more cycle parking, trees, seating and greenery along routes and in public realm areas, as well as a dedicated pick-up/drop-off point and improvements outside the Enfield Town Station Plaza. Waiting and loading is rationalised across the scheme area. This circa £15m project is part-funded by Transport for London (TfL) and contributions from developers.

The north London council said it is working with residents and businesses to enhance town centres and high streets to “support commercial viability and vitality, strengthen local communities, and enhance the environment with greenery and art”.

Journeys and Places delivers work to make neighbourhoods safer for road users to walk, wheel and cycle across the Borough, including at schools, with lower levels of motor traffic, lower speeds of motor traffic, and cycle parking for residents, said the council.

Phase one of the scheme was completed last year, with the opening of a new public space called Saddlers Square. Other changes included new pedestrian connections, with new signalised crossings; circa 95sqm of new rain gardens/SUDS (sustainable drainage systems); eleven new trees planted; 9m of new seating; and ten new dedicated Blue Badge bays.

New artwork was installed in Saddlers Square, developed with pupils from George Spicer School and the Enfield Poets, who created fish motifs and original poetry, which was incorporated into the artworks, alongside the poetry of local former resident John Keats.

The council said that, since the project began in 2019, it has worked closely with residents and business associations, the Old Enfield Charitable Trust, emergency services, Palace Gardens and Exchange Shopping Centre, among others. 

There have been four phases of community engagement over a period of years, including co-design workshops of the public spaces, and feedback on the proposed plans, said the council. 

Enfield Council is hosting this year’s Liveable Neighbourhoods conference in partnership with Transport for London (TfL). The event, organised by Landor LINKS, will take place on Thursday 20 November.

A packed programme has now been announced, including presentations on developing good communications and engagement, reallocation of kerb space from parked cars to other uses, and measures for reducing road danger.

There will also be a presentation on Enfield’s Journeys and Places programme as well as a guided walking tour of Enfield Town centre.

Panellists include: Helen Cansick, Head of Investment Planning for Healthy streets, TfL; Richard Eason, Programme Director, Enfield Council; Cllr Katherine Dunne, Cabinet member for Environment, Climate and Transport, Hounslow Council; Caroline Russell, Leader of City Hall Greens; Tash Hartke, Kerbside Strategy Programme Manager, Lambeth Council; Neil Murphy, Director, Town; Imogen Hamilton-Jones, Policy Researcher, LSE Cities; Stephanie Edwards, Director, Urban Symbiotics; Jordan Di Trapani, Principal Consultant, SYSTRA; and Habib Khan, Founder, Meristem.

The conference will be opened by Enfield Council Leader Ergin Erbil.

Sabri Ozaydin, Cabinet Member for Environment and Placemaking at Enfield Council, said: “We are delighted that the 2025 Liveable Neighbourhoods Conference will take place in Enfield Town which is a fitting location as we deliver our own Liveable Neighbourhood project here.

“Through Enfield Council’s Journeys & Places programme, we are delivering improvements to the public realm and spaces for residents and visitors to stop and rest, promoting a bustling town centre.

“The conference is a great opportunity to showcase our progress, share ideas with other local authorities, and celebrate the benefits of creating more vibrant town centres for our communities.”

Find out more about Enfield’s Journeys and Places programme at Liveable Neighbourhoods https://www.liveableneighbourhoods.uk