Enfield Borough Council has sold an old town hall to developers to be converted into flats.

Developers, Hollybrook Homes has been granted a contract for the Southgate Town Hall building in Green Lanes, to convert the ground in 30-40 flats.

However, Southgate MP David Burrowes is unhappy about the use of the former town hall.

He said:  “I welcome the planned improvements in the Palmers Green library and prospect of a GP clinic but these should not come at the expense of selling off Southgate's community asset for a housing development.
The Council has continuously ignored the schools places crisis in this part of my constituency and ignored the opportunity of a new school at the Old Town Hall.

“We now have the prospect of more housing without school places for these new families. The Old Town Hall is an important part of the heritage of Southgate. Enfield Council has now sold off our family silver and short changed the people of Enfield Southgate."

Building work is expected to begin in the summer of 2014, and completed in late 2015.

The deal will see flats built and potentially a new doctor’s surgery and refurbished library.

Councillor Andrew Stafford, Enfield Council’s cabinet member for finance and property said: “Southgate Town Hall is an important local landmark for many residents, and this deal allows us not only to provide much needed affordable housing, but to give local people a much better Palmers Green Library and potentially a new medical centre.

“We are delighted to work with Hollybrook Homes to deliver this ambitious and exciting project which is the right deal at the right time for Enfield Council and the community in Palmers Green.”

Nicholas Langley from Hollybrook Homes said “The proposed development will see Southgate Town Hall carefully restored and converted into apartments with a new build block at the rear.

“We are looking forward to working with Enfield Council to deliver what we hope will be a successful scheme of private and affordable homes on this historic site.”