A golf club in Enfield, on the outskirts of London, is at the centre of a national housing debate after architects unveiled proposals to build hundreds of homes on part of its course. The speculative plans by the design firm RCKa would see nine of the course’s 18 holes transformed into a landscape of lakes, allotments and wetlands interspersed with low- to mid-rise mansion blocks. The architects say the scheme would enable the construction of about 650 affordable homes and pay for additional community facilities, including a gym and an upgraded golf clubhouse.
Enfield golf club, where full membership costs up to £1,610 a year, was originally founded in 1893 as a nine-hole course but expanded to 18 holes during the 20th century. The club leases its land from the local council at an annual sum equivalent to about £0.03p a square metre. At the same time, Enfield has one of the highest proportions of residents living in temporary accommodation in the country and, according to government data, is among the worst boroughs in London at building enough new homes to meet rising demand.
