Government data shows there were over 4,500 empty homes across Enfield at the end of 2025, the highest number recorded in nearly 20 years. Bringing empty homes back into use is not the one answer to Enfield’s housing crisis. But it is one of the few levers that can add homes back into use relativelyContinue reading “There’s a housing crisis, but the number of empty homes in Enfield is the highest in nearly 20 years”
Author Archives: betterhomesenfield
Enfield Council has been amongst the worst in London for building new Social Rent homes.
Since 2010, Enfield has gone backwards on Social Rent housing. Social Rent (including London Affordable Rent) is the only genuinely affordable housing option for many of Enfield’s households, including people stuck in temporary accommodation and families living in overcrowded or insecure private rented homes. So, when we talk about “housing delivery,” we cannot just talkContinue reading “Enfield Council has been amongst the worst in London for building new Social Rent homes.”
What type of homes will be built at Crews Hill and Chase Park?
Introduction and Summary The Government’s New Towns Taskforce (NTT) published its report in September 2025. It recommended that land at Crews Hill & Chase Park (CH&CP) be considered as a potential site for a new town, capable of delivering 21,000 new homes. The Government’s response listed CH&CP as one of the three most promising locationsContinue reading “What type of homes will be built at Crews Hill and Chase Park?”
Enfield’s Planning Committee: Performance, Accountability and Public Trust
Enfield’s Planning Committee is responsible for determining planning applications that shape Enfield’s neighbourhoods, influence housing delivery, and set precedents for future development. However, the past year has been marked by declining output and controversies that raise serious questions about governance, value for money, and public confidence. Deteriorating value for money The Planning Committee plays aContinue reading “Enfield’s Planning Committee: Performance, Accountability and Public Trust”
Enfield’s New Local Plan: A Missed Opportunity to Control Adult Gaming Centres
Enfield Council has spent over £7 million preparing its new Local Plan intended to shape Enfield for the next 15 years. Yet despite this significant investment, the Plan fails to adequately address the growing number of adult gaming centres and betting shops on Enfield’s high streets. In a recent Enfield Dispatch article, local community groupContinue reading “Enfield’s New Local Plan: A Missed Opportunity to Control Adult Gaming Centres”
Boldness Without Respect: Crews Hill’s Businesses Deserve Better
Why Enfield’s New Town Vision Risks Jobs and Community The “bold vision” for Crews Hill, wrapped in the language of a New Town designation, is being sold as progress. But for the hundreds of people whose livelihoods depend on the area’s businesses, including the horticultural nurseries, garden centres, landscapers, builders’ yards, and family-run suppliers, theContinue reading “Boldness Without Respect: Crews Hill’s Businesses Deserve Better”
Alma Estate Redevelopment: Planning approval setback for affordable housing in Enfield
Introduction The redevelopment of the Alma Estate in Ponders End marks a significant transformation for this post-war estate. Initially approved in 2017, the project aimed to create a modern, sustainable community by demolishing 746 homes and constructing 993 new ones. Subsequent planning applications have increased the number of homes to 1,080, and last night, Enfield’sContinue reading “Alma Estate Redevelopment: Planning approval setback for affordable housing in Enfield”
Where Has £650,000 of Meridian Water Community Chest Money Gone?
In 2021 Enfield Council established the Meridian Water Community Chest which promised to transform the lives of residents in Edmonton. Four years on, it Is unclear what has happened to £650,000 of the fund that was supposed to be distributed to benefit the community. Despite the Council’s commitment to regular grant rounds and reporting, theContinue reading “Where Has £650,000 of Meridian Water Community Chest Money Gone?”
Risks of Removing HMO Policies in Enfield’s New Local Plan
Enfield’s proposed new Local Plan has sparked considerable debate and is currently being examined by the Government’s Planning Inspector. One concern we have about the Plan, is the absence of policies for Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs). HMOs are houses or flats that are shared by 3+ tenants who form two or more households andContinue reading “Risks of Removing HMO Policies in Enfield’s New Local Plan”
Enfield’s Missed Housing Opportunities. Part 1: Brimsdown Industrial Estate
Opportunities to build thousands of new homes on sustainable urban brownfield sites in Enfield have been missed. Introduction The Government’s commitment to deliver 1.5 million new homes within a 5-year timeframe has sparked significant attention. While discussions often revolve around redeveloping Green Belt land and creating New Towns, it’s crucial not to overlook the potentialContinue reading “Enfield’s Missed Housing Opportunities. Part 1: Brimsdown Industrial Estate”
Better Homes Enfield 