The government has named Crews Hill and ‘Chase Park’ as potentially suitable for 21,000 homes, reports James Cracknell

An Enfield Labour MP has welcomed news her constituency will likely see more than 20,000 homes built as part of a ‘new town’ – vowing she’ll do all she can to “ensure residents are actively involved in shaping proposals”.

The Green Belt areas of Crews Hill and ‘Chase Park‘ – better known locally as Vicarage Farm – were named last week by the government’s New Towns Taskforce as one of twelve locations recommended for “accelerated” development of new housing.

Prior to the announcement, there was already anger locally over the loss of Green Belt land and the forced removal of dozens of horticultural businesses at Crews Hill.

The council had previously allocated 9,200 homes for the two areas in its draft Enfield Local Plan, over a total of 452 hectares, while the new town proposal is for 21,000 homes over 884ha – but no map has been published to show where the additional 432ha will be found and neither the council nor government has answered questions from the Dispatch around this figure.

Commenting publicly on the news for the first time today (Tuesday 7th), Enfield North MP Feryal Clark admitted the new town would be a “big change” for the area but that she was “elected on a manifesto that promised to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation”, pointing out Enfield Council still has 7,000 families on its waiting list for homes.

Clark, who until recently was a minister serving in Sir Keir Starmer’s government, said: “We can all agree that having a warm, safe home is one of life’s most basic needs, and it’s something I want every Enfield North resident to have, so this is an opportunity for Enfield to provide homes for its residents in the same borough where their family members live.

“I want to emphasise that nothing has yet been agreed, and the site may not ultimately be confirmed as a new town. While the New Towns Taskforce report identifies potential for up to 21,000 homes at Crews Hill and Chase Park – with council ambitions for half to be affordable and up to 6,000 to be council homes – these figures are purely indicative.

“The proposals remain subject to detailed assessment by government and further work with Enfield Council, the Greater London Authority, and other partners and statutory bodies. That’s why a formal consultation has not yet begun; it is expected to start once the government confirms its proposed locations in spring 2026.

“If agreed, Crews Hill and Chase Park would need to come with the right economic and social infrastructure such as water, power, increased transport links, affordable housing, schools, GP surgeries and high standards of design and placemaking.”

Business owners in Crews Hill, an area well known for its garden centres, fear not only that they will be forced to leave the area but that they may not be compensated for lost income and moving costs during their relocation.

Responding to those concerns, Clark said: “I know that businesses in the area may feel uncertainty at this time and that’s why I’m pushing to make sure confirmation of any new town takes place as soon as possible. And I’ll ensure that genuine efforts are made to deliver public benefits through fair, negotiated agreements with landowners before any use of compulsory purchase orders, which will only ever be a last resort.

“Any new town would represent a significant development for Enfield North, and rest assured I will do everything I can to ensure residents are fully informed, actively involved in shaping the proposals, and able to share their views before any formal decisions are made.”

This article has been corrected after it was pointed out that the total area for the Crews Hill and Chase Park placemaking areas in the Enfield Local Plan is 452ha rather than the 249ha reported previously. It remains the case that hundreds of additional hectares are set to be included in the ‘new town’ proposal from government.

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