Let’s Stop TfL's proposed development of the car parks at Arnos Grove Station

The Issue

What's the problem?

TfL and Grainger plc, under direction from the Mayor of London, are intending to proceed with the development of both car parks at Arnos Grove Station in a Build-to-Rent residential scheme to provide 150 new homes. Similar schemes have been proposed across other TfL station car parks, including Cockfosters and High Barnet, but this will have a detrimental impact to the locality in the following ways:
 
Displaced parking onto residential streets

The station car parks operate as a ‘park & ride’ facility because those using them are coming from other areas with poor public transport facilities. The development will not lead to less cars on our roads, but will simply displace parking onto nearby residential streets, necessitating a 24/7 Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ), the cost of which will fall on residents and not TfL.
 
Increased congestion on Bowes Road

Arnos Grove Station already has a significant problem as a commuter drop-off point, the result of which is the blocking of buses seeking to enter the station forecourt and causing logjams along Bowes Road. This is likely to increase and so lead to more congestion in the area.
 
Bad for the environment

Many more residents will instead of paying for a 24/7 CPZ concrete over their gardens, which will lead to further drainage problems, such as flash flooding, thereby working against the environment and worsening the effect of climate change.

Housing would be unaffordable to most Enfield residents

Just 40% of the proposed development will be affordable and, even then, this will be on the Mayor’s definition of affordability, which is up to 70% higher than Enfield’s social rent levels.  These flats will therefore be unaffordable to most Enfield residents, especially the most vulnerable in the Borough. The local community cannot be expected to support developments that will do nothing to address the Borough’s lack of truly affordable housing.
 
Risk Arnos Grove Station's iconic status

Any development of the car parks will undermine Arnos Grove Station’s iconic Grade II Star Listed status by ruining its spacious appearance with developments on either side. 
 
Therefore please sign this petition to the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan calling on him to STOP TfL from proceeding with this ill-advised scheme.

avatar of the starter
Daniel AndersonPetition Starter
Media enquiries

3,163

The Issue

What's the problem?

TfL and Grainger plc, under direction from the Mayor of London, are intending to proceed with the development of both car parks at Arnos Grove Station in a Build-to-Rent residential scheme to provide 150 new homes. Similar schemes have been proposed across other TfL station car parks, including Cockfosters and High Barnet, but this will have a detrimental impact to the locality in the following ways:
 
Displaced parking onto residential streets

The station car parks operate as a ‘park & ride’ facility because those using them are coming from other areas with poor public transport facilities. The development will not lead to less cars on our roads, but will simply displace parking onto nearby residential streets, necessitating a 24/7 Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ), the cost of which will fall on residents and not TfL.
 
Increased congestion on Bowes Road

Arnos Grove Station already has a significant problem as a commuter drop-off point, the result of which is the blocking of buses seeking to enter the station forecourt and causing logjams along Bowes Road. This is likely to increase and so lead to more congestion in the area.
 
Bad for the environment

Many more residents will instead of paying for a 24/7 CPZ concrete over their gardens, which will lead to further drainage problems, such as flash flooding, thereby working against the environment and worsening the effect of climate change.

Housing would be unaffordable to most Enfield residents

Just 40% of the proposed development will be affordable and, even then, this will be on the Mayor’s definition of affordability, which is up to 70% higher than Enfield’s social rent levels.  These flats will therefore be unaffordable to most Enfield residents, especially the most vulnerable in the Borough. The local community cannot be expected to support developments that will do nothing to address the Borough’s lack of truly affordable housing.
 
Risk Arnos Grove Station's iconic status

Any development of the car parks will undermine Arnos Grove Station’s iconic Grade II Star Listed status by ruining its spacious appearance with developments on either side. 
 
Therefore please sign this petition to the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan calling on him to STOP TfL from proceeding with this ill-advised scheme.

avatar of the starter
Daniel AndersonPetition Starter
Media enquiries

The Decision Makers

Sadiq Khan
Sadiq Khan
Mayor of London
Responded
“Dear Petitioner, Thank you for the petition submitted on the Change.org website about Transport for London’s (TfL) plans to develop the car park at Arnos Grove station. In response to the capital’s housing crisis, and as one of London’s largest landowners, TfL is striving to build homes that Londoners desperately need. It is bringing forward thousands of homes on dozens of sites across London at locations in close proximity to the transport network, which is where people want to live and are the most sustainable sites to develop. This proposal at Arnos Grove is a fantastic opportunity to deliver around 150 rental homes, 40 per cent of which will be affordable, while generating significant ongoing revenue to reinvest into the transport network. TfL and its partner Grainger plc are also seeking to deliver a new public square, cycle parking and other local improvements through the redevelopment. The exact tenure mix of the affordable housing provision is decided in collaboration with Enfield Council, but it will include a mixture of affordable housing products including Discount Market Rent and rent at London Living Rent levels. It is Mayoral policy that both of these rented products should be affordable to households on incomes of up to £60,000. Priority will be given to those who live or work in the borough, and TfL and Grainger are discussing with the Council how nominations could potentially be prioritised to particular groups in housing need including those on the Council’s waiting list or key workers. The homes that are not designated affordable will be leased at appropriate-market rent levels, which is based on the average rent of the area. These homes will be accessible to a wide range of local people, providing the choice of a quality, well managed ‘mid-market’ rental product that will assist in meeting the housing need in the local area. TfL has carried out surveys and research into how the car park at Arnos Grove is currently used. This survey data shows that 54 per cent of people using the station are driving from outside of Enfield. It also shows that the vast majority have alternative forms of public transport available to them and many live within walking distance of another London underground or national rail station. There is currently a Controlled Parking Zone in effect around Arnos Grove station, which operates between 11am and midday, preventing commuter parking in neighbouring streets. From data modelling and comparing this to similar developments, TfL and Grainger believe that the development could reduce the number of car journeys in the area by up to 850 trips each day, thereby reducing congestion and improving air quality in the local area. Respecting the character and appearance of the local area and the Grade II* listed station building is hugely important to TfL and it has driven the architectural response to the site. TfL will continue to consult with Enfield Council’s heritage team, Historic England, the 20th Century Society and local interest groups to ensure the development complements the heritage of the area. TfL recently held a second round of engagement with the local community to hear and understand local people’s priorities and aspirations for their area. TfL is currently analysing the feedback and will update local people and elected representatives of its proposals in the New Year. For further information, or to provide feedback please visit: https://www.givemyview.com/arnosgrove. Yours sincerely, Public Liaison Unit Greater London Authority”

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Petition created on 29 October 2019