‘Supporting sustainable development;
preserving our character and natural environment;
strengthening protection of the Green Belt'
Latest news
The examiner has now published his draft report on Enfield’s new Local Plan, which contains its proposals and policies on housing etc. Details here, but key findings on the Green Belt are that:
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The Duchy of Lancaster-owned fields off Crescent West are to remain Green Belt. They are not allocated for development of new homes.
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The release from the Green Belt of land in Crews Hill and Chase Park, for development of 9,000+ new homes, is allowed. (Separately, the government’s ‘New Towns’ proposals want to increase that to 20,000+ homes. Although Cllr Georgiou has pulled Enfield out of the programme, the government has ways to bypass the Council).
The next steps are outlined in this video. There will be a 6 week consultation – comments are limited as to whether the mandatory 'main modifications' make the Plan not sound or legally compliant. We can't think of arguments to support the view that deletion of the site in Hadley Wood has that effect.
After the final report is issued, Enfield’s councillors will vote whether to accept it, or reject the findings and start the process from scratch (that only happens very rarely, and we understand that the report will reluctantly be endorsed as the lesser of two evils).
This is very good news and reflects the efforts and generosity of many residents….! Also, thanks to Cllr Alex Georgiou, who has been unwavering in his support of the campaign to save the Green Belt.
So, very good news locally, but we're not out of the woods yet….
The Hadley Wood Neighbourhood Planning Forum
Local Plan vs Neighbourhood Plan
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Planning applications are considered against the policies of both the Local Plan and Neighbourhood Plan.
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The Hadley Wood Neighbourhood Plan only applies to our area and was developed, and voted on, by local residents. It reflects the community's view on what development should look like.
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Enfield Council's Local Plan covers the entire borough. It sets a new housing target, and can remove land from the Green Belt for development (or add to it). Councillors, not residents, vote on the Local Plan.
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The NP's policies can differ from the Local Plan policies, but must align with its 'Strategic Policies', such as the target number of new homes.
What's happening?
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Enfield Council has for a few years been developing its new Local Plan for the period to 2041.
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In spite of overwhelming objections in 2021, the Council produced a largely unchanged draft, which was subject to one last public consultation in early 2024.
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In Sep 2024 the Council submitted that draft Plan for independent examination. Comments you sent in during the last consultation were passed on to the Examiner.
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The new homes target has been increased by 33% over the 2021 draft. This is being used to justify the unchanged plans for material releases of Green Belt land for development, including the fields off Crescent West (see images below).
View from Crescent West
The Local Plan mentions 160 new homes, but the number could be much higher (500) based on the building density to be used at Chase Park, and buildings up to 7 storeys tall.