Groups have given a range of views on possible government backing for large numbers of homes in Crews Hill and Chase Park, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

The view from Vicarage Farm, one of the Green Belt sites earmarked for thousands of new homes by Enfield Council — A view from Vicarage Farm, one of the Green Belt sites earmarked for thousands of new homes

Residents have given mixed responses to Enfield being selected for construction of a government-backed ‘new town’.

The government’s New Towns Taskforce recommended that 21,000 homes, of which up to 50% will be affordable, could be built on Green Belt land in Crews Hill and ‘Chase Park’ – better known locally at Vicarage Farm – which are located adjacent to one another.

However, Better Homes for Enfield campaigner Matt Burn said the plan raised “more questions than answers”.

Matt said: “There are no details on layout, transport or green space, and Crews Hill businesses are worried about their future.”

Business owners in the area have already raised numerous concerns around poor communication with the council around development plans which have been in the works in Crews Hill and Chase Park for several years, as part of Enfield Council’s draft Local Plan. This summer, the council admitted it would need to issue compulsory purchase orders to landowners, such as Thompsons of Crews Hill, that refuse to sell up.

Referencing council’s 10,000-home development Meridian Water, which has faced delays and financial challenges, Matt said: “Government and Greater London Authority (GLA) involvement offers some hope [for the new town proposal], because the council’s record on major projects hardly inspires confidence. What about Meridian Water? The promise of 10,000 homes within 20 years seems to have been quietly forgotten.”

Meanwhile Ben Twomey, chief executive at Generation Rent, a campaign group calling for better and more affordable homes, has welcomed the plans for Crews Hill and Chase Park. He said Londoners were being “squeezed” by the cost of rent and “pushed into poverty, homelessness and debt” before having “a chance to find somewhere”.

Ben said: “While building will take many years to complete, Enfield’s renters need breathing space from soaring rents now, which is why the mayor of London is right to ask the government for powers to limit rent rises in the capital.”

He added: “Building them as quickly as possible, safely and with the right environmental assessments, will be crucial because there’s so much pressure on Londoners right now, which is pushing people either out of the city altogether or even into temporary accommodation.”

Ian D’Souza, from Enfield Road Watch, a group which campaigns to protect the borough’s Green Belt, said the group were shocked by the inclusion of Chase Park, also known as Vicarage Farm. Ian said public hearings were still to take place over the areas being allocated in the Local Plan – for development of a much smaller number of 9,200 homes between the two sites – and called their inclusion in the government’s scheme a “mockery of due process”.

He said: “In their report, the taskforce thanks the council for their collaboration, so it’s clear that they promoted Vicarage Farm for development in parallel with the Local Plan process. How is this in any way being open and transparent with their residents?

“The report repeatedly refers to Enfield’s Green Belt as ‘poor quality’ and ‘lower quality greenfield’. Did the taskforce even visit Enfield to assess any form of viability, or did they just accept what the council had told them?

“We really feel for the businesses at Crews Hill who employ hundreds of Enfield residents. The garden centres and the golf course attract visitors way beyond the borough, which is good for Enfield and its economy.”

In response to concerns, council leader Ergin Erbil said: “This is an exciting moment for Enfield, allowing us to help create a borough where families can grow.

“I speak to residents every day who aren’t able to buy their own homes or afford sky-rocketing rents. Young people tell me all the time about their struggles to find affordable and suitable homes in the borough. My generation has been locked out of home ownership. They don’t want to leave the borough, and they want their ambitions for home ownership in Enfield to be heard.

“A potential new town compliments our evidence-based Local Plan which has already shown Crews Hill and Chase Park as locations which can provide much-needed genuinely affordable family homes for local people.”

“The final decision about the locations of new towns is yet to be made by government who will be undertaking further assessments on all the locations shortlisted by the taskforce and have indicated a decision will come in spring next year.

“If a new town proceeds here, there will be lots of opportunities for residents and businesses to get involved and shape plans as they develop.”

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.