Enfield Town’s transformation continues with the official opening of Saddlers Square, the first phase of the ‘Enfield Town Liveable Neighbourhood’ project.
A new public space in Enfield Town, Saddlers Square, will officially open this week, marking the first phase of the town centre’s regeneration. The grand opening event is set for Saturday, 25 January at 11am, as part of the ‘Enfield Town Liveable Neighbourhood project,’ led by Enfield Council. This project aims to revitalise the town centre, making it more welcoming and accessible for residents, visitors, and shoppers.
Saddlers Square, located at the junction of Church Street and Little Park Gardens, is one of the key improvements that has been made in the area. This public space forms part of a wider effort by the Council to enhance the town centre and create a more inviting environment for everyone. The development is designed to improve the public realm, providing a place for people to enjoy while also improving safety and accessibility for pedestrians, cyclists, and those using public transport.
This new public space is set to enhance the town’s appeal, creating safer, more accessible areas for pedestrians and cyclists.
The regeneration is also focused on reducing traffic and enhancing walking routes. Through extensive public engagement, the project has been shaped by the views and ideas of local residents, ensuring that it meets their needs and encourages active travel. Changes to traffic operations between Church Street, Cecil Road, and Little Park Gardens, as well as new crossing points and pathways, are all part of the broader plan to make the area more accessible.
One of the key features of the new public space is the artistic element introduced by Enfield Council. Local artist James Tunnard has designed new artworks for Saddlers Square, which are inspired by the town’s literary history and its proximity to nature and water. The artwork includes ‘Riverpath’ and a series of Stepping Posts, which feature fish motifs and original poetry contributed by local schoolchildren from George Spicer School and Enfield Poets. The artworks also incorporate poetry by John Keats, adding a cultural touch to the area.
“I hope these transformational changes will encourage more people to visit Enfield Town actively and explore the beautiful decorations that celebrate our heritage and community.”
Cllr Sabri Ozaydin, Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Placemaking
The opening of Saddlers Square is just the first phase of a broader regeneration project, which has already seen significant improvements to the area. The funding for Phase 1 has come from a combination of Transport for London (TfL) funding and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding. Discussions with TfL are ongoing, and further funding is expected this year to help progress the next major phase of the project.
Cllr Sabri Ozaydin, Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Placemaking at Enfield Council, has expressed his excitement about the first phase’s completion. The improvements, he said, would help encourage more people to visit the town actively and explore the new spaces that celebrate Enfield’s heritage and community spirit.
The launch event at Saddlers Square will be a celebration of the town’s ongoing transformation, with more improvements expected in the coming months as the regeneration project continues to unfold.
ALSO READ: Waltham Forest celebrates Pongal in style