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Enfield Council Quits New Towns Over Green Belt Development

5/30/2026

30 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Enfield Council Withdraws

Enfield Council withdrew from the new towns programme over plans to develop Green Belt land at Crews Hill.
CPRE said the move shows strong local opposition and highlighted the Meridian Water regeneration programme in Enfield as a way to deliver affordable homes without harming the countryside.
CPRE chief executive Roger Mortlock called the Green Belt the wrong place for new towns and urged a brownfield-first approach.

Summary

John Dickie Urges

John Dickie urged the Greater London Authority to intervene and restore the Crews Hill new town after Enfield Council withdrew.
A mayoral development corporation is being considered to shift planning powers from Enfield Council to a body modeled on the London 2012 Olympics corporation.
Prior + Partners and Alan Baxter are preparing a masterplan that allocates 9,000 homes under the existing local plan.

Summary

Georgiou Withdraws

Alessandro Georgiou, Enfield Council leader, wrote 28 May to Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook to withdraw from 21,000-home Crews Hill plan.
New Towns Draft Programme shortlist lists seven sites, naming Crews Hill as one of three fast-track locations.
Results gave Conservatives 31 seats, Labour 27 and Greens five, and pledged to protect Crews Hill.
Officials say Towns proposals are due in summer, affecting fast-track sites such as Crews Hill.

History

Historical Context

Britain’s post-war New Towns Act of 1946, guided by the 1944 Greater London Plan, launched satellite towns such as Stevenage—designated 11 Nov 1946, which built 6,000 homes and housed 30,000 people by 1960. Today Enfield Council’s pull-out from the 21,000-home Crews Hill scheme revives the historic clash between local boroughs and national bodies like the Greater London Authority.

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Enfield Council Withdraws

Enfield Council withdrew from the new towns programme over plans to develop Green Belt land at Crews Hill.
CPRE said the move shows strong local opposition and highlighted the Meridian Water regeneration programme in Enfield as a way to deliver affordable homes without harming the countryside.
CPRE chief executive Roger Mortlock called the Green Belt the wrong place for new towns and urged a brownfield-first approach.

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