Plans to build blocks of flats up to 29 storeys high on the site of a retail park have been recommended for approval.

NEAT Developments’ proposals for Colosseum Retail Park in Southbury could create up to 1,800 homes, with 35 per cent classed as affordable “by habitable room”.

Planning chiefs at Enfield Council believe the proposals should be given the green light – despite admitting in their report to the planning committee that the scheme is not “fully compliant with all policies”.

Their report claims the development would provide “substantial public benefits” that would “outweigh the less-than-substantial harm to the setting of a limited number of heritage assets”.

Councillors will decide on the proposals at a meeting of the planning committee on Tuesday (September 29), which will be broadcast live over the internet.

They will be asked to grant detailed permission for phase one of the development, which would provide 444 homes in four blocks up to 29 storeys, and outline permission for the second phase.

The proposed affordable housing level on the development is below the 40 per cent target set out in Enfield’s Local Plan. According to council papers, an assessment by Deloitte Real Estate concluded the scheme is “unviable” and does not provide enough profit to meet an appropriate “minimum developer’s return”.

The development would also provide fewer family-sized homes than the level set out in the Local Plan. Phase one proposes 12 per cent family homes and phase two a minimum of 35 per cent family-sized homes across all tenures.

But the planning officers’ report says Enfield’s local housing register “indicates a demand of 47.3 per cent for family-sized homes for affordable and social rented housing”.

Planning chiefs believe the development would cause some harm to the setting of Grade II-listed Queen Elizabeth Stadium and Forty Hall Estate, which is home to Grade I-listed Forty Hall.

But they list a range of benefits they believe the scheme would provide, including 140 long-term jobs, two parks and new community facilities – including a children’s nursery and a possible health facility.

Their report claims the development would lead to a reduction in road traffic and a “net increase in biodiversity”.

It would also help to meet Enfield’s housing target of building 1,246 homes per year expected to be set out in the forthcoming London Plan.

The planning committee is due to meet at 7.30pm on Tuesday. More information is available here.