A cash-strapped London council was forced to pay a contractor at least £300,000 in compensation after it was unable to carry out works as part of a £6 billion major housing development on the River Lea by a group of narrow boaters.
Works were due to begin to reconstruct the riverbank on the River Lea as part of the Meridian Water Regeneration Project, but five people were found to be living in the area in December 2023.
The housing development is one of the most ambitious in the capital and is due to bring around 10,000 homes to Edmonton in the next 20 years.
The project is expected to cost around £6 billion in total and generate 6,000 jobs, with £195 million expected to be spent on key infrastructure such as roads and bridges.
Enfield Council told the Standard it was forced to take action against people “who were illegally mooring boats, setting up unauthorised dwellings, and allowing dangerous and neglected stray dogs” on its land at Meridian Water.
High Court documents show that a father and son, both named Charles Snell, had been living on a narrowboat on the River Lea for several years where part of the development is due to take place.
Steven May and Abdellah Tayeb (known as Castro) also had narrow boats moored on the same section of the river, which is owned by Enfield Council.
A fifth man Michal Wujek was also discovered to be living in a shed nearby and told the council he had been there for at least eight months in December 2023.
Notices were issued to try and move the group in early February 2024 but they did not move at first.
A month later the council’s contractor, Taylor Woodrow, warned that it was being prevented from carrying out works due to boats and structures in the area.
The construction company warned Enfield Council that under its contract it would have to pay up to £142,000 a week in compensation if it couldn’t carry out the works.
An injunction was launched against all of the men blocking the works, except Steven May who had already left the area, in May 2024 and they were told to also leave by June 12.
The High Court was told that they left shortly afterwards.
At a hearing earlier this month, the High Court heard it was “absolutely necessary” for boats and vessels to be moved from a section along the River Lea so that works, including building a new canal wall, could be carried out.
Jonathan Skelton, who is in charge of Enfield Council’s Strategic Infrastructure Works programme, told the court that the council was forced to pay between £300,000 and £400,000 to Taylor Woodrow due to penalty clauses in its contract.
The contractor was delayed in getting full access to the area for seven months between December 2023 and June 2024.
An injunction has now been issued to prevent anyone else from occupying the space.
Last month Enfield Council said like many other authorities it was facing “continued significant pressures” for temporary accommodation, children’s care costs and housing. It has forecast a £10.8 million budget gap for the 2025/26.
An Enfield Council spokesperson said: “We had to take legal action to move people who were illegally mooring boats, setting up unauthorised dwellings, and allowing dangerous and neglected stray dogs on our land at Meridian Water.
“This was necessary so our contractor, Taylor Woodrow, could begin vital infrastructure work.
“We understand that moving people is a sensitive issue, which is why we made sure that those affected were offered access to Council support. However, we have a duty to use our legal powers to progress our plans to build homes and improve our neighbourhoods.
“The work at Meridian Water is a key part of our commitment to building decent homes for local people and creating jobs, parks, and community spaces to benefit the whole borough.”
