Enfield Council has welcomed the government’s latest announcement on its New Towns Programme, which confirms that Crews Hill and Chase Park is one of seven locations being considered.
This is the next step in a national process to look at where new towns could be built to help meet housing needs and support growth.
For Enfield, this is an opportunity to bring new homes, jobs and investment to the borough.
Councillor Ergin Erbil, Leader of Enfield Council, 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.”
A potential new town at Crews Hill and Chase Park could deliver around 21,000 homes. The Council expects many of these to be three and four-bedroom family homes, with a large number also being council homes. This would help local families, young people and key workers find a home in Enfield.
Alongside new homes, the new town proposals would:
- Support the Enfield Chase Restoration, one of London’s largest nature projects. This will give residents access to a huge new green part of the borough for the first time by rewilding more than 1,000 hectares of former or low-grade farmland, creating wetlands, new ponds and walking routes.
- Relieve pressure on local services through the building of more schools and GP surgeries, ensuring quality healthcare and education for all.
- Attract businesses and boost the local economy, helping to create thousands of jobs.
- Create better transport links with the potential for new east-west bus routes, more trains at Crews Hill station, and better walking and cycling routes.
The government has said that a public consultation on proposed locations and draft planning policy is open until Monday 18 May and will be published shortly.
It is expected that final locations will be confirmed later this year after the consultation and Strategic Environmental Assessment and any further required environmental assessment