A new vision for Palace Gardens

Have your say on its future

DWS and RivingtonHark are in the early stages of creating a new proposal to transform the Palace Gardens Shopping Centre into a more vibrant, welcoming and sustainable destination. This is the first stage of public consultation, focused on listening to the community — understanding what people value about Palace Gardens today and what they would like to see in its future. 

Your feedback will help shape a shared vision that will be focused on local priorities, the long-term future of the town centre and the framework of the emerging Enfield Local Plan.

The site

The Palace Gardens Shopping Centre is located in the heart of Enfield Town. Its main entrance is from the North off Church Street.

A satellite bird’s eye view image of Enfield Town. The proposed development site is outlined in red, and the wider Shopping Centre areas are shown by the blue line.

Why now?

While Palace Gardens continues to serve as the heart of the town, it is now showing signs of age. The current layout and unit sizes no longer meet the needs of many modern retailers, limiting its ability to adapt to changing shopping habits. As a result, it no longer fully realises its potential as a focal point for Enfield’s residents and visitors.

Vacancy levels, footfall patterns and changing shopping habits all highlight the need to reposition Palace Gardens for a more sustainable and flexible future.

Enfield Council are also currently bringing forward a new Local Plan, which includes guidance for new homes in the town centre. Our emerging proposals are intended to be in keeping with the new policies.

This redevelopment represents the next stage of long-term investment in Enfield Town, strengthening its role as a key shopping and leisure destination, improving the experience for visitors, and creating new homes and green spaces that support a thriving local centre for years to come.

Our team

A new project team has been appointed by RivingtonHark to take a fresh approach to the future of Palace Gardens. This marks a clear break from previous proposals, with a renewed focus on listening, collaboration and long-term commitment.

The team recognises the sensitivity of the site and the importance of doing things differently, working with the community, local stakeholders and Enfield Council to create proposals that deliver lasting benefits for Enfield Town.

Our investment in Enfield Town so far

You might have noticed some of the recent improvements that RivingtonHark and DWS have made to Palace Gardens, as the first steps of our investment in the town centre.

Earlier this year we restored the northern entrance to Palace Gardens from Church Street, to provide a more attractive and welcoming entry point for shoppers. We also upgraded the public toilets in the centre.

We have also assisted Pearsons, helping them to successfully expand their store last month.

The upgraded north entrance from Church Street

Pearsons reopening in November

The improved public toilets

Our Vision

Our early ideas for the future of Palace Gardens are about revitalising the heart of the town, where community, commerce, and sustainability thrive.

We want to create a place for everyday living and shopping, while introducing a stronger evening economy to bring new dining and leisure offers to Enfield.

Our vision is based on the following key principles to:

Strengthen the everyday shopping offer of Enfield Town, anchored by popular retailers such as M&S, Waitrose, Pearsons and Iceland

Deliver much-needed new homes on a brownfield site in the town centre

Improve the layout of the Shopping Centre to create units that meet the needs of modern retailers

Bring new activity and life to Cecil Road and the south of the centre, supporting the wider local economy

Continue DWS’s long‑term commitment to Enfield Town through responsible ownership and investment

Be guided by the draft Enfield Local Plan in terms of height and design, aligning with local priorities and the wider town centre framework

Improve connectivity, by creating a new north-south route through the Shopping Centre to Cecil Road

Enhance the town centre’s green infrastructure, with new planting, landscaping and biodiversity measures

Strengthens its everyday shopping offer, anchored by much-loved retailers such as M&S, Waitrose, Pearsonsand Iceland

Introduces new homes and high-quality public spaces where people want to spend time

Improves connectivity, sustainability and greening across the site

Retains the familiar, convenient character that local people value, while enhancing it for the future

While Palace Gardens continues to serve as the retail heart of the town, it is now showing signs of age. The current layout and unit sizes no longer meet the needs of many modern retailers, limiting its ability to adapt to changing shopping habits. As a result, it no longer fully realises its potential as a focal point for Enfield’s residents and visitors.

The future redevelopment of the site presents a unique opportunity to reinvigorate Enfield Town Centre — creating a setting that responds to contemporary retail and community needs, while respecting the area’s heritage and character.

Next Steps

December 2025

This first phase of consultation is the start of an ongoing conversation.

Spring 2026

Early next year, we will hold a second round of consultation to show how feedback from this initial stage has informed the next phase of the plans.

Summer 2026

The aim is to submit a planning application in Summer 2026, informed by what we hear from the community and local stakeholders over the coming months.