What this decision signals for small-scale London housing delivery
Enfield Council has approved the construction of a five-storey mixed-use residential block on Gladbeck Way, replacing a former car park with nine self-contained flats and a ground-floor commercial unit. The scheme, submitted by GSA Homes, reflects a wider London pattern: small, car-park-led infill sites are increasingly being used to deliver low-rise housing without affordable provision, prioritising density, infrastructure efficiency and planning certainty over tenure mix.
1. What has been approved
The approved development will occupy a 661 sqm former car park site at Gladbeck Way, Enfield. Planning consent allows for:
The car park ceased operation in December 2024, and the proposal involves full site redevelopment, not refurbishment. This is not a permitted-development conversion or prior approval scheme. It is a full planning permission granted on 26 January 2026, subject to standard planning conditions.
2. Why this site type matters in London now
Car parks have become one of the quiet workhorses of London housing delivery. Local authorities are increasingly approving small, discrete infill schemes on under-utilised land where policy compliance can be demonstrated without triggering major infrastructure or affordable housing obligations.
Key advantages of this typology:
For boroughs like Enfield, this allows incremental housing supply without masterplanning risk.
3. No affordable housing and why that is allowed
The scheme does not provide any affordable or RSL units, which may raise questions for residents. At this scale, and given site constraints, boroughs frequently accept zero affordable provision where viability thresholds are not met and policy compliance is otherwise achieved.
This reflects a practical trade-off:
In effect, councils are choosing certainty of delivery over policy maximisation on small sites.
4. Sustainability, drainage and infrastructure signals
Despite its modest scale, the scheme includes several standardised sustainability features now expected in London approvals:
5. What this tells us about London housing delivery in 2026
This Enfield approval is not unusual and that is the point. London’s housing supply is increasingly being delivered through many small, low-risk schemes, rather than a few large, high-risk ones.
The cumulative effect matters:
For planners, developers and contractors, this represents a shift toward fragmented but dependable delivery.
LCM conclusion
The Gladbeck Way approval is not a headline project, but it is a clear signal of how London is building now.
Small sites.
Tight envelopes.
Limited policy concessions.
Low drama.
For professionals searching online, the takeaway is simple: this is what normal London housing delivery looks like in 2026.
Enfield Council has approved the construction of a five-storey mixed-use residential block on Gladbeck Way, replacing a former car park with nine self-contained flats and a ground-floor commercial unit. The scheme, submitted by GSA Homes, reflects a wider London pattern: small, car-park-led infill sites are increasingly being used to deliver low-rise housing without affordable provision, prioritising density, infrastructure efficiency and planning certainty over tenure mix.
1. What has been approved
The approved development will occupy a 661 sqm former car park site at Gladbeck Way, Enfield. Planning consent allows for:
- Nine self-contained residential flats
- One ground-floor commercial unit (Use Class E – professional services)
- Five storeys with an overall height of approximately 15.35 metres
- Buff brick and dark metal cladding
- 98 sqm green roof
- 18 cycle spaces and three car parking spaces (down from 23 existing)
The car park ceased operation in December 2024, and the proposal involves full site redevelopment, not refurbishment. This is not a permitted-development conversion or prior approval scheme. It is a full planning permission granted on 26 January 2026, subject to standard planning conditions.
2. Why this site type matters in London now
Car parks have become one of the quiet workhorses of London housing delivery. Local authorities are increasingly approving small, discrete infill schemes on under-utilised land where policy compliance can be demonstrated without triggering major infrastructure or affordable housing obligations.
Key advantages of this typology:
- Clear land ownership and boundaries
- Limited neighbour interface compared to estate redevelopment
- Predictable scale (typically 4–6 storeys)
- Faster planning determination
For boroughs like Enfield, this allows incremental housing supply without masterplanning risk.
3. No affordable housing and why that is allowed
The scheme does not provide any affordable or RSL units, which may raise questions for residents. At this scale, and given site constraints, boroughs frequently accept zero affordable provision where viability thresholds are not met and policy compliance is otherwise achieved.
This reflects a practical trade-off:
- Fewer units delivered, but delivered quickly
- Lower planning friction
- Reduced delivery risk
In effect, councils are choosing certainty of delivery over policy maximisation on small sites.
4. Sustainability, drainage and infrastructure signals
Despite its modest scale, the scheme includes several standardised sustainability features now expected in London approvals:
- SuDS drainage, including a 46% reduction in surface water discharge for extreme rainfall events
- Green roof provision
- Full fibre internet connectivity to all units
- Dedicated waste and recycling storage for each dwelling
5. What this tells us about London housing delivery in 2026
This Enfield approval is not unusual and that is the point. London’s housing supply is increasingly being delivered through many small, low-risk schemes, rather than a few large, high-risk ones.
The cumulative effect matters:
- Nine units here
- Twelve units there
- Approved, financed and built
For planners, developers and contractors, this represents a shift toward fragmented but dependable delivery.
LCM conclusion
The Gladbeck Way approval is not a headline project, but it is a clear signal of how London is building now.
Small sites.
Tight envelopes.
Limited policy concessions.
Low drama.
For professionals searching online, the takeaway is simple: this is what normal London housing delivery looks like in 2026.
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Expert Verification & Authorship: Mihai Chelmus
Founder, London Construction Magazine | Construction Testing & Investigation Specialist |
