Forum topic: Continuation of new town proposals branded “heavy-handed and autocratic”

Community groups condemn Starmer’s and Khan’s “heavy-handed and autocratic” Crews Hill & Chase Park New Town push and demand evidence, transparency and the proper consideration of credible alternatives to solving the housing crisis

10 June, 2026

Action for Enfield's Future [AfEF] considers that residents of Enfield, and beyond, are being subjected to an autocratic, undemocratic decision to push forwards with a New Town on Enfield's Green Belt: Crews Hill and Chase Park (CH&CP NT) They argue that the proposal neglects to provide evidence, undermines confidence in governance and sets worrying precedents for the future.

After his party’s success in the May 7 local elections, the new Leader of Enfield Council, Cllr Alessandro Georgiou, rejected CH&CP NT as promised in his party's manifesto. Parties opposed to the new town drew 77% of the vote share – a significant mandate. Despite repeated assertions from the Government that the new towns list is not yet finalised, the Prime Minister and the Mayor of London quickly defied Cllr Georgiou's opposition by stating their explicit support for CH&CP NT. The grounds for the, apparently, single-minded pursuit of CH&CP NT are at best opaque and at worst non-existent, paying scant regard to the serious, more carefully planned and justified alternatives that exist, and could alleviate the housing crisis at pace.

This rejection of their democratic mandate has not gone down well with Enfield residents, who voted overwhelmingly against the new town. Far from being naysayers, blockers or NIMBYs, as labelled by the Prime Minister, Enfield's residents have a depth of local knowledge and credible solutions to the housing crisis, which they, and the new Council, are eager to share with the decision-makers. For instance:

• 700+ brownfield sites in Enfield that would deliver tens of thousands of homes, unlocking stalled sites
• Utilising the thousands of vacant properties across Enfield
• A renewed focussed on the large areas of underutilised brownfield land in the Upper Lee Valley Opportunity Area that has enormous potential for renewal
• Reconsidering the proposal for a London New Town at South Barking, a brownfield site which is in line with the Brownfield First policy and which will deliver far more homes than CH&CP NT. It scored more highly in the government’s own assessment but is not shortlisted

As part of our continuing campaign, at 12:30pm this Thursday, June 11, AfEF will deliver to10, Downing Street more than 4,000lettersto the Prime Minister opposing the new town and questioning the process. Representatives will be available for comment.

Since that initial letter, more worrying facts have come to light, including issues with the New Towns consultation, which closed on May 19, and revelations via FOI and EIRs. A development of this magnitude, vast in every respect, would benefit from a great deal more transparency, much less secrecy and a genuine openness to alternative ideas before any final decision is made.