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]…
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 for…
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 route…
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 relatively…
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 talk…
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 locations…
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 a…
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 group…
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, the…
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’s…
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