North London borough’s new Conservative leader said group was elected on mandate to protect green belt
Enfield Council has formally withdrawn from the government’s New Town programme, in a move that looks to spell the end for a planned 21,000-home settlement.
The north London borough’s new Conservative leader Alessandro Georgiou wrote to housing minister Matthew Pennycook today to inform him of the decision.
Both the Conservatives, which took the most seats in the 7 May poll, and the Green Party, which holds the balance of power on the hung council, campaigned against the development.
Georgiou in his letter said 77% of the Enfield electorate had voted for parties whose manifestos opposed the Crews Hill new town, which in March was included on the government’s list of seven new towns it is proposing to back.
Georgiou wrote: “We have been elected on a clear mandate to protect Enfield’s green belt, and today we are honouring that commitment by formally withdrawing from the New Town process.
“As a new administration, we are eager to work constructively and collaboratively with the government to deliver these homes. However, our focus will shift away from destroying green spaces and toward maximising our urban potential”
He said in his letter the council will work with the government to deliver new homes and jobs, with a renewed focus on brownfield sites and town centre regeneration.
Enfield’s local plan, which had yet to be adopted, designated Crews Hill for around 5,500 new homes, at least three schools and infrastructure including release of green belt land.
In March, the government included Crews Hill and Chase Park in the list of new towns it is proposing to back, saying a new town in the wider area could deliver 21,000 homes. The new town was backed by the council’s previous Labour administration.
The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Greater London Authority have been both approached for comment on Enfield’s decision.
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