Meridian Water

The first phase, Meridian One, has been masterplanned and designed by us, in collaboration with Hawkins Brown, with Countryside Partnerships as the development partner. When complete, it will comprise 977 homes, 50% of which will be affordable.

We are committed to supporting emerging practices, believing their input will diversify the design language across the development. Therefore, Fisher Cheng Architects and Urban Projects Bureau led the design of specific buildings up to Stage 3a. Handing them over to us for delivery.

As the first building to complete, Brambling House by Urban Projects Bureau, contains 18 maisonettes and 2 apartments. The facades have been carefully detailed with differentiated depths of brick header, creating pattern and texture across the façade. Other distinctive features include the arched entry ways, one half glazed, one half filled with patterned brick. The design and delivery teams worked hard to advocate for this feature, achieving an impactful sense of arrival for those who live in and visit the building.

Phase 1B comprises 676 new homes, ground floor commercial space, leisure facilities and a health centre. HTA and Hawkins Brown have successfully collaborated to design the last three development parcels of Meridian One (Plots B, C& D) to complete Phase 1 of the Meridian Water masterplan.

The proposals have been developed through a thorough engagement process with the London Borough of Enfield’s planning department, Design Review Panel, Design Advisory Group, the Greater London Authority and the local community, Full planning application for Phase 1b was submitted in December 2021 and approved by LBE’s planning committee in September 2022.

Meridian One will be a 7-hectare neighbourhood nestled within a parkland. 75% of the site will consist of parks, open space, play space, tree nurseries, and tree-lined streets that link to surrounding open spaces. The public realm and open space is a celebration of the parkland character of the Lower Lea Valley.

The strengthened North-South route features biodiverse rain gardens and forest-scale trees, extending parkland through the centre of the site. At the heart of the site is Station Square, adjacent to Meridian Water station and the centre of the community. There are two large parks within the development; Northern Park is designed as an informal, more naturalistic parkland with wetlands and clusters of native trees. The Southern Park represents a more formal, gateway parkland with amphitheatre linear seating areas. Micro Parks along the edges of the site, create green gateways into Meridian One, enhancing and extending the green corridor along the railway.

Meridian One is a seven-hectare neighbourhood set within the parkland of the Lower Lea Valley. HTA Design has made the landscape a key component of the regeneration, reimagining post-industrial land as a verdant, playable environment where nature, community, and urban life coexist. New homes are framed by green courtyards, planted balconies, and landscaped roofs, while tree-lined streets connect seamlessly into wider ecological networks. 

HTA has led the public realm design across all phases, delivering three new parks, a civic square, and a habitat-rich ecological corridor that forms part of an integrated SuDS and water restoration strategy. Rain gardens, permeable streets, and biodiverse planting manage water, mitigate climate change, and create thriving habitats rooted in the character of the Lea Valley. This ecological richness gives the neighbourhood its distinctive identity, as if nature has reclaimed the land. 

Leading the transformation is Hoppa Play and Skate Park, a 3,000m² destination that consolidates play into one dynamic environment. Designed for all ages and abilities, it combines adventure play, water play, and a skate park with inclusive breakout areas, sensory planting, and clear sightlines for carers. Balancing activity with calmer, sociable spaces, it has quickly become a landmark for the borough, attracting both new and existing communities. 

Alongside this, the TCV Community Garden provides a meanwhile space for growing, learning, and social connection. Co-designed with residents within a framework developed by HTA, the garden strengthens local ownership, fosters participation, and supports wellbeing through initiatives such as the Green Gym and skills-based workshops. 

Inclusive design principles shape the experience throughout: accessible routes, sociable breakout areas, sensory planting, and spaces guided by Make Space for Girls ensure the environment welcomes all members of the community. Play and calm coexist through carefully balanced zones, offering opportunities for activity, reflection, and connection with nature. 

Meridian One demonstrates the transformative power of landscape to lead regeneration. By delivering high-quality green spaces early in the process, HTA has helped establish a strong identity, fostered health and wellbeing, and created a resilient framework that will grow with the community for generations to come.