Enfield Council withdraws support for plan to build 21,000 new homes

Plans for more than 20,000 homes near the M25 in north London face uncertainty after Enfield Council withdrew support for a proposed New Town. The change followed local elections that brought a new administration, with Conservatives winning a majority and campaigning to block the development. The council’s new leader confirmed the council will no longer support proposals linked to the programme. The plan would have connected Chase Park and Crews Hill and relied on land described as low-value despite being Green Belt. The council prefers town-centre and brownfield development, though brownfield sites are costlier and may reduce affordable housing. The proposal also involved Transport for London plans to improve rail services. The project is not necessarily ended because the area already had plans for 9,000 homes, potentially increasing under a New Town designation.

"Plans to build over 20,000 new homes close to the M25 in north London have been thrown into doubt after Enfield Council pulled out of supporting the proposed New Town. The decision follows the recent local elections, which resulted in a change of administration, with 31 Conservative, 27 Labour, and 5 Green councillors elected."

"Cllr Georgiou said that the Council will work with the government to deliver new homes and jobs, with a renewed focus on brownfield sites, and town centre regeneration. The proposal would have seen as many as 21,000 new homes built, linking Chase Park and Crews Hill, and had general support from the previous Enfield councillors and the GLA."

"Although the land is classed as Green Belt, a report into the project described it as low-value land, comprising commercial nurseries, garden centres, a golf course and lower-quality greenfield land. The council wants to focus on more town centre developments, but brownfield sites are much more expensive to develop, which would reduce the amount of affordable housing that could be provided."

"The New Town was also part of the proposal put forward by Transport for London ( TfL) to take over part of the Great Northern line, which runs through the area, and to increase train frequency to London Overground standards. Although the council has withdrawn from the New Towns scheme, it doesn't mean the project is dead."

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