Meridian Water was an obvious candidate for the Government’s new towns programme. It is a very large, self-contained brownfield site that has struggled to deliver. Formal new town status could have made a real difference by helping to get the project back on track. It could have accelerated the delivery of new homes and jobs.Continue reading “Why didn’t Enfield Council put Meridian Water forward as a new town?”
Author Archives: betterhomesenfield
Enfield Labour’s manifesto makes promises about HMOs it cannot realistically keep
Houses in Multiple Occupation, or HMOs, are homes where several unrelated people live and share facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom. They provide cheaper housing and play an important role in Enfield’s housing mix. But they can also bring problems: poor living conditions for tenants, pressure on residential streets, and the steady loss ofContinue reading “Enfield Labour’s manifesto makes promises about HMOs it cannot realistically keep”
No Evidence. No New Town.
A new report on the proposed Crews Hill and Chase Park new town. This report is for people interested in the proposed new town at Crews Hill and Chase Park. It does not argue for or against the new town. Instead, it seeks to highlight issues which have so far been ignored, underplayed, or misrepresented.Continue reading “No Evidence. No New Town.”
Enfield Labour’s poor housing record
Ahead of the local election on May 7th, the Mayor of London has this week called for people to “… vote on the track record of their local councils, rather than using it as a referendum on the imperfections of a Labour government.” [1] Fair enough. So that is what we have done. We lookedContinue reading “Enfield Labour’s poor housing record”
Enfield Council is avoiding scrutiny of its new town bid
The government has recently confirmed that the proposal to build up to 21,000 homes at Crews Hill and Chase Park is being taken forward in its New Towns Draft Programme.[1] Enfield Council submitted a proposal to build a new town at Crews Hill and Chase Park to the government’s New Towns Taskforce in late 2024.[2]Continue reading “Enfield Council is avoiding scrutiny of its new town bid”
Why is Enfield Council lobbying for housing developers?
This week Enfield Council released a report called “Rebuilding the Ladder: The Definitive Set of Reforms for First-Time Buyers.” The report is presented as a serious attempt to find ways to help people onto the housing ladder. It talks about blocked aspiration, rising deposits, mortgage barriers and younger households being priced out. A report forContinue reading “Why is Enfield Council lobbying for housing developers?”
Temporary Accommodation: A False Economy
How government underfunding, high rents and policy failure are driving homelessness in Enfield and across London IN BRIEF Rates of homelessness in Enfield are among the highest in the country. The government’s most recent homelessness data shows there are still over 3,000 Enfield households living in temporary accommodation, including over 4,500 children. [1] The routeContinue reading “Temporary Accommodation: A False Economy”
There’s a housing crisis, but the number of empty homes in Enfield is the highest in nearly 20 years
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”
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?”
Better Homes Enfield 