PLANNING officers have come down in favour of a controversial plan to locate a homeless hostel in the middle of Palmers Green shopping centre.

Arima Leisure Ltd wants to convert the first floor of the former Court's furniture store into a hostel for 26 people.

Tonight Enfield councillors will decide whether to accept their officers' recommendation that planning permission should be granted.

The council has received 27 letters and a 35-signature petition objecting to the plan.

Prominent objectors include Southgate MP Stephen Twigg, his Conservative rival for the seat John Flack, and senior Labour councillor Bambos Charalambous, who represents Palmers Green ward.

Green Lanes Business Assocation says the development would undo years of work to regenerate business in the high street.

And the council's head of regeneration has warned that the development would lead to loss of valuable retail space, and 'could undermine retail confidence in the town centre.'

However in a report to the planning committee, council planning officers dismiss the objections.

They say worries over loss of retail space are 'not sustainable', as the premises have not been used for trade for some time.

The application for the hostel at 316-320 Green Lanes, including a first-floor rear extension, is the second to be submitted.

The first was rejected by the council last year, and the applicant made changes to its proposals.

These include scrapping a plan to turn the building's flat roof into a terrace for hostel residents.

But the changes have not been enough to convince residents and traders.

In a letter to councillors, Costas Georgiou, chaiman of Green Lanes Business Association, said: 'Four years ago we had many empty shops and Palmers Green was in the doldrums.

'Since then with much hard work on the part of all sections of our association the area has almost 100 per cent occupancy with wide retail coverage.

'To allow a hostel to be sited in the main core of our retail centre is clearly an intrusion into all we have worked for.

'We cannot find one person among the 116 members of our association, or the residents of accommodation over the shops, who supports the application.'

The application will be decided at tonight's meeting of Enfield Council planning committee in the Civic Centre, Silver Street, Enfield, at 7.45pm. The public can attend.

By Michael Mullen

mmullen@london.newsquest.co.uk

High noon for high street hostel scheme

Plan ïcould undermine confidence in town centreÍ