Around 40% of London’s golf courses are owned by the boroughs in which they are located. Many of these councils are struggling with profound levels of housing need, not least homelessness and overcrowding, together with a rapidly expanding disparity between those in housing comfort, and those in distress.
A surprising number of London’s golf courses are located in highly accessible areas; close to public transport or high streets. Our Holes to Homes masterplan sets out a responsible and more equitable vision for the golf course in Enfield – unlocking 650 new homes alongside new social infrastructure to serve the existing community around it, while also retaining nine holes for golfers.
As an example of how a typical London golf course could be redeveloped, Holes to Homes presents a propositional piece of work demonstrating how a typical London golf course in Enfield could be redeveloped.
New homes are arranged in a series of villa blocks occupying nine of the fairways and putting greens—not a single tree would be lost. Furthermore, development would enable significant improvements in biodiversity, with remaining areas of the course rewilded, including a new wetland along Salmon’s Brook.