Construction works begin on Enfield Council’s £6bn Meridian Water regeneration as Mayor of London visits site

On Thursday 26 January 2017, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan made his second visit  to an LCA client's site in a week. Following his appearance at the Museum of London on Tuesday 24th, The Mayor visited Enfield Council's Meridian Water regeneration site as construction enabling works formally started on the first 725 new homes.  Enfield Council also announced to Sadiq a major programme of activity for its flagship £6bn regeneration scheme.

26 January 2017

- Sadiq Khan visits Meridian Water as construction enabling works begin on the first 725 new homes around the new railway station.

- Network Rail construction works to build an additional track on the West Anglia main line also imminent, with the new railway station at Meridian Water planned to open in 2019.

- £6 billion scheme will deliver 10,000 new homes and 6,700 new jobs for North London, led and controlled by Enfield Council.

- New images published of the Meridian Water Masterplan.

Cllr Doug Taylor, Leader of Enfield Council, said:

“Today is the day that Meridian Water moves firmly from vision to reality.  Many people said ‘it couldn’t be done’ but today we have started works to prepare the site for the first 725 new homes, we have the new railway station funded and being delivered and we have the UK’s largest homes builder as our selected Development Partner.

“Meridian Water is a dedicated Housing Zone and will deliver enormous benefits for local people, providing much needed new homes, thousands of new jobs – supported by dedicated training programmes to help local people into employment – and a fantastic destination for North London.

“Over the coming months we will be making a series of further announcements as the project gains momentum and I was thrilled to welcome the Mayor of London to kick-off this transformation.”

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:

“Meridian Water has the potential for 10,000 new homes and 6,700 new jobs around a new train station with hugely improved links to central London.

"We know that fixing the housing crisis will be a marathon, not a sprint, but that means starting now and being ambitious. I look forward to seeing work getting underway to support the delivery of homes, jobs, transport infrastructure and open spaces in this part of the capital.”

The role of Enfield Council in pioneering Meridian Water is also very different from the usual approach of a local authority when managing major regeneration projects.

Speaking about this, this Cllr Doug Taylor, Leader of Enfield Council, said:

“Enfield Council is doing regeneration differently at Meridian Water, taking direct control to ensure the maximum benefits for residents and ratepayers.

“It is a pioneering approach for the public sector and unlike that for any other London regeneration site, with Enfield Council buying land, preparing designs, delivering Meridian Works, overseeing infrastructure investment, delivering low carbon heating and hot water and directing the retail strategy.

“We are absolutely committed to maximising the potential of Meridian Water and creating a beautiful new part of London, making full use of the water which runs through the site, its proximity to the Lee Valley Regional Park and the excellent transport connections by road and rail.”

David Thomas, Chief Executive of Barratt Developments PLC, Enfield Council’s selected Development Partner for Meridian Water, said:

“This is one of London’s most important regeneration projects that will benefit the Capital for generations. London needs new homes and with 10,000 in total being delivered it will help to put Meridian Water and the wider Enfield area on the map. We’re looking forward to starting work on delivering the first phase of these homes early next year.”

During the visit of the Mayor of London, Enfield Council also confirmed the following Meridian Water activity programme:

- January 2017 – Meridian Angel Primary School fully operating from its new buildings.

- January 2017 – Construction enabling works start on Meridian Water’s Phase One, delivering 725 new homes, shops and public spaces around the new railway station.

- Spring 2017 – Development Agreement signed between Enfield Council and Barratt London, the selected Development Partner.

- September 2017 – Enfield Council begin construction of the first phase of Meridian Works, a new premises for Building Bloqs and ACAVA (the Association for Cultural Advancement through Visual Art) creating the largest open workshop in Europe, supporting 300 jobs.

- Early 2018 – Barratt London on-site constructing Phase One.

- Early 2018 – Building Bloqs @ Meridian Works and ACAVA @ Meridian Works opens.

- 2019 – The new Station at Meridian Water is planned to open, triggering the delivery of the first new homes.

You can find out more about the Meridian Water regeneration by visiting www.meridianwater.com.

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