Enfield council withdraws from government new towns programme
The Story
Enfield council in north London has withdrawn from the government’s new towns programme, according to a report by The Guardian. The move by the new minority Conservative-led administration comes after Labour lost control of the council in local elections earlier this month.
Key Facts
- Enfield council is withdrawing from the government’s new towns programme, which planned to build 21,000 homes at Crews Hill and Chase Park.
- The withdrawal follows significant local opposition to building homes, shops, schools, and services on green belt land currently occupied by garden centres and family-run businesses.
- The new Conservative council leader Alessandro Georgiou sent a letter to housing and planning minister Matthew Pennycook on Thursday stating the council no longer supports the proposals.
- The council said it will focus on brownfield sites and town centre regeneration instead.
- Nina Barnes, owner of the Culver garden centre site at Crews Hill, welcomed the decision, calling the original plans “ludicrous and ill-thought-out.”
- A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) spokesperson said the government recently consulted with local people on the proposals and will respond in due course.
Conflicting Reports
No conflicting reports identified in the source article.
Still Unclear
What specific actions the government will take in response to Enfield’s withdrawal, and how this affects the broader new towns programme.
Misconceptions
No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.
Key Figures
- Alessandro Georgiou – Conservative councillor and new leader of Enfield council
- Matthew Pennycook – Minister for housing and planning
- Nina Barnes – Owner of Culver garden centre at Crews Hill
Sources: The Guardian
