Masterplanning & Urban Design

Our design process for the Joyce and Snell's Park Estate evolved through hundreds of plans, diagrams, models, visuals, schedules, and calculations. While we use increasingly sophisticated modelling tools to develop designs, ensure regulatory compliance, and coordinate with other disciplines, there is still huge value in using pen and paper to explore ideas and move the team toward a shared vision. Here are a few examples of how manual drafting allows us to explore masterplan concepts. We start with a vision for the place, expressed through street-level views and aerial diagrams. The street views show the spaces we want to create, the trees we aim to preserve, and the character we want to maintain. They raise important questions: where will people gather, how will businesses integrate with housing, and how will open and play spaces coexist? These views, while sketchy, convey a sense of belonging. However, they are limited—they don't capture the full design or the constraints.

Aerial diagrams, on the other hand, show the scale of open spaces, streets, and the number of homes required. Although no one experiences the place from this angle, these sketches help organise and build relationships between spaces. For example, this can be seen in the connections between the garden squares and Fore Street at Joyce and Snell's. This process sets the foundation for building design. As spaces change, buildings must adapt, reflecting changes in regulations and quality standards. We explore how these changes affect future residents—what it will feel like to walk, stand, or live in these spaces. Despite advancing design tools for us, it is always about the people who will live there.

The regeneration of Joyce and Snell’s Park Estates is a testament to thoughtful urban planning developed over six years of collaborative design and community engagement with Enfield Council. The masterplan reimagines the area as a vibrant, connected neighbourhood that balances the demands of sustainable growth with the needs of its diverse urban community. Guided by an understanding of housing demand, the plan integrates innovative housing typologies within a layout designed to address longstanding crime and antisocial behaviour issues. Bounded by the railway line to the west and Fore Street to the east, the estate capitalizes on its location adjacent to a bustling high street. Fore Street, a vital artery with high occupancy rates, retains its distinctive character through carefully limited building heights. Along its edge, new structures blend seamlessly with the surroundings, offering ground-level commercial and civic spaces. Adaptable shopfronts and awning-covered spaces ensure the street remains a dynamic hub for local businesses.

A key milestone in the transformation is relocating Fore Street Library to a contemporary, purpose-built facility. This new space enhances its role as a cultural anchor, offering expanded community services and creating a hub for learning and engagement. To the south, taller buildings, including the striking 26-story Block D, form a bold gateway to Enfield. Block D serves as both a landmark and a practical orientation point, clad in red brick, marking key routes through the area.

The masterplan emphasizes accessibility and active travel, with pedestrian-friendly streets designed to TfL’s ‘Healthy Streets’ standards. A new crossing over the North Circular (A406) improves connectivity to Silver Street Station and Pymmes Park, while an east-west route links Fore Street to the railway and North Middlesex Hospital. This integrated network redefines the estate as a vibrant, inclusive, and future-ready community.