The owner of Thompsons of Crews Hill slams council’s plans for the area following admission it will use compulsory purchase orders to buy up land, reports James Cracknell

Rod Thompson, owner of Thompsons of Crews Hill

The owner of one of Crews Hill’s biggest businesses has claimed Enfield Council “can’t afford” to buy his land – in response to news the civic centre would use compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) to oust firms refusing to sell to developers.

At last month’s two-day discussion on Crews Hill as part of the Enfield Local Plan examination, planning inspector Steven Lee questioned how the civic centre would enable 5,500 new homes to be built in the area when some of the land needed was still occupied by existing businesses refusing to sell – council barrister Matthew Reed KC admitted in response that the council “will consider the exercise of CPO powers as necessary”.

Rod Thompson is the third generation of his family to own and run Thompsons of Crews Hill, known primarily for supplying soil, turf and paving but now also selling general garden products. Speaking to the Dispatch about the prospect of a CPO on his land, Rod said: “I don’t think the council have got the money. I don’t think they understand how much it will cost.”

Crews Hill is the largest Green Belt area where the council wants to allocate new housing, but this could be hampered by the complex arrangement of landowners. The area is known for its horticulture businesses, including several garden centres and plant nurseries, some of which have sold their land to developers already, but with several such as Thompsons refusing to do so – despite having many offers.

Rod continued: “We run a successful business, with 65 staff. We do a lot for the area, we supply a lot of local businesses. We bought the garden centre site [formerly Phoenix Rose] and we have turned it around. We have made Crews Hill a better place.”

Rod said he wanted to expand further, with as many as 90 staff, but has put those plans on hold while waiting to find out if the council will issue its CPO. Asked whether he thought building 5,500 homes in Crews Hill was feasible, Rod said: “The infrastructure isn’t good enough. The train station is great if you are commuting [to London] but for anything else it isn’t very helpful.”

He added: “It’s a pipe dream, it’s not going to work. It looks like they’ve drawn it up on the back of a fag packet.”

Another business owner in Crews Hill, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Dispatch that the area was “good for us” and that they “want to stay” because of the area’s proximity to the M25, which makes it ideal for delivering products outside London.

Asked to respond to Rod Thompson’s claims that the council cannot afford to buy his land, leader Ergin Erbil did not directly address the question, but said: “We need to use a CPO so we can build more family-sized homes, health centres, parks and other important facilities in Enfield.

“The homes are urgently needed to help homeless families and to give local people the chance to buy affordable homes that suit their needs. Using a CPO allows the council to buy land or buildings to use for the benefit of the borough. We take every chance we can to buy land or buildings and turn them into safe, family homes for people who really need them.

“We always think carefully before using a CPO and we make sure it’s the right thing to do. We follow all the proper rules and procedures. If we decide to go ahead, it’s because it will help the local community and offer good value for money for residents and taxpayers.”

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