But Enfield Conservatives vow to stop the plans going ahead if they win power in May, reports James Cracknell

Crews Hill Station (credit Enfield Dispatch/James Cracknell)

Enfield has been named among the government’s seven confirmed locations for its ‘new towns’ programme – with a public consultation set to launch “shortly”.

The Labour government wants to see up to 21,000 homes built across a large swathe of Metropolitan Green Belt at Crews Hill and ‘Chase Park’, an area better known locally as Vicarage Farm.

The new town would be more than twice the size of the council’s own proposals for the two areas in its draft Enfield Local Plan, which has still not yet been adopted, but the civic centre has nonetheless enthusiastically welcomed the government’s intentions for the area ever since Crews Hill and Chase Park were first put forward by the New Towns Taskforce last September.

The taskforce had itself named twelve potential new towns, but the government has confirmed today (Sunday 22^nd) that it is only taking seven forward. Among the others is Thamesmead in South London, which is earmarked for 15,000 homes.

Secretary of State for Housing Steve Reed said: “People want real homes they can actually afford and infrastructure that really works – this government is making that a reality for communities across the country.

“For Greater London, that means up to 36,000 new homes across two landmark sites in Enfield and Thamesmead in Greenwich. The Docklands Light Railway extension will unlock riverside land in Thamesmead that has long been out of reach and investment in Enfield will help meet the capital’s housing need.”

Reed’s ministerial colleague at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, housing minister Matthew Pennycook, told parliament in January that he thought Crews Hill was “very promising” as a new town site and that the “growth potential” is “clear as day”.

The government says every new town will “aim to have a 40% affordable housing target, with at least half for social rent” and further claims they will provide “neighbourhoods that people can easily get around without a car, shared green spaces and vibrant high streets”.

Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan – who spent six years opposing Enfield Council’s plans for building thousands of homes on the Green Belt before U-turning last year – said: “I welcome the announcement today that Crews Hill in Enfield, and Thamesmead in Greenwich, have taken a step forward as proposed locations for the government’s new towns programme.

“Both sites represent significant opportunities to support the government’s growth mission and to help address London’s acute housing needs through the delivery of sustainable, high-quality neighbourhoods.”

Scores of existing businesses in Crews Hill, centred around horticulture, would likely be forced to leave if the new town goes ahead. Several have expressed their anger with both the council and government.

The future of the borough’s Green Belt has also become a major dividing line across Enfield politics in recent years, with the opposition Conservative group pledging to protect it while the Labour administration continues to double down on its housing plans.

Tory leader Alessandro Georgiou, who hopes to become council leader in May, told the Dispatch: “Enfield Council, Sadiq Khan and the government have conspired to destroy Crews Hill, Vicarage Farm and the Green Belt.

“As Enfield Conservatives we will take our fight to the ballot box and, if we win on 7^th May, we will save these sites from the clutches of the Labour Party.”

The Enfield Labour 2026 manifesto, published earlier this month, pledges to “introduce a ‘first dibs’ policy for first-time buyers already living in Enfield for affordable homes” and “push for infrastructure to be in place before new residents move in”.

As well as the Tories, the Liberal Democrats, Greens, Reform UK and Enfield Community Independents have all pledged to save the Green Belt from development should they win power in May.

Update (11am, 23rd March):

Council leader Ergin Erbil said: “We welcome the government’s decision to include Crews Hill and Chase Park as a potential new town. This is a strong vote of confidence in Enfield.

“Our aim for a potential new town is to help families from all parts of the borough stay in Enfield by building the homes, jobs, public spaces and services our communities need.

“We are clear that both the draft Local Plan and potential new town should prioritise lower-rise buildings that are in-keeping with the character of the area. This largely means two and three-storey family houses, usually with three or four bedrooms and gardens. Thousands of these will also be affordable and council homes.

“This could also unlock additional investment into local transport services, including new east-west bus routes, better cycling and walking routes, and more trains at Crews Hill.

“We are committed to getting this right for our residents, and they will be involved every step of the way. We will continue to work closely with government to make sure the voice of Enfield’s communities is heard.”

Update (3pm, 23rd March):

The public consultation is now open on the government’s website: gov.uk/government/consultations/new-towns-draft-programme

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