A derelict depot has moved one step closer to becoming a housing site.

The decision to build at the disused depot in Bury Street West, in Bush Hill, was voted through by Labour members at an Enfield Borough Council meeting at the Civic Centre, in Enfield, last week.

A new extension to Bury Lodge Park with a total of 130 homes will be built on the site in an attempt to appease the housing crisis.

Councillor Ahmet Oykener, Enfield Council’s cabinet member for housing and estate regeneration, said: “We do understand the concerns of local residents, and they will be taken into account, however we must not lose sight that these proposals provide a great opportunity to extend the park and deliver affordable housing for residents at a time when housing in Enfield is at a premium.”

Cllr Andrew Stafford, cabinet member for finance and property, said: “We are committed to bringing unused sites into use for the benefit of the wider community, and we have to make every penny count in these tough economic times and find innovative and creative solutions to the problems we face.

“This site, as well as providing much-needed housing, will extend and improve the park and add many additional features to the site.”

Opposition councillor Edward Smith expressed reservations as he and his party abstained during the vote at the meeting.

He said: “Our views on the Bury Street scheme is that it is a very large, risky, profit-driven development that doesn't address the housing needs of the Borough, which in Bush Hill Park are primarily to provide affordable housing to buy through shared ownership or discounted sales and social rent.

“A total of 78 of the planned 130 homes are for market rent and the reason for this is that the scheme is designed first and foremost to generate income for the council.  We also have major concerns about the environmental impact impact on the adjacent area and park of such a high density development.

“If the council had not been so horrendously slow in developing Meridian Water and the small sites programme, they would have had scope to create a  more suitable development for Bush Hill Park.”