Starmer Targets Enfield Over Crews Hill New Town — Enfield 2026

Key Points

• Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer publicly criticised Enfield Council for opposing the government-backed plan for a new town at Crews Hill and Vicarage Farm, calling local opponents “naysayers and blockers”.
• The government proposes building about 21,000 homes in the north-west of Enfield, which would require de-designation and development of hundreds of hectares of Green Belt.
• Enfield’s new minority Conservative administration, led by Cllr Alessandro Georgiou, has formally written to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to withdraw from the new towns process.
• Downing Street’s statement names Enfield Council directly and signals central government support for mayoral or regional intervention to advance the project.
• Officials have discussed giving the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, powers to lead the project via a mayoral development corporation, a mechanism that would strip the council of planning control in the affected area.
• The Downing Street statement also mentions Transport for London (TfL) taking control of services on the Hertford Loop from Moorgate to Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage, to improve rail connectivity for the proposed new town.
• At the May local election, 77% of Enfield voters backed parties pledging to protect the Green Belt; newly elected Green councillors abstained on the council leadership vote, enabling a Conservative minority administration.
• If enacted, the government’s proposals could result in Enfield Council losing planning powers in the north-west of the borough.

Enfield (North London News) June 10, 2026 — Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has publicly rebuked Enfield Council for its opposition to the government’s plan to create a new town at Crews Hill and Vicarage Farm, signalling Whitehall readiness to override local objections and potentially transfer planning powers to a mayoral body to deliver around 21,000 homes in the north-west of the borough.

What has the Prime Minister said about Enfield Council’s stance on the new town?

As reported by James Cracknell of the Enfield Dispatch, Downing Street issued a statement naming Enfield Council and quoting Sir Keir Starmer criticising

“the naysayers and the blockers”

who, in the prime minister’s view, are preventing growth and housing delivery.

The government’s statement framed local resistance as an obstacle to its wider objective of “kickstarting growth” and delivering homes and infrastructure for future generations.

Why does the government want a new town at Crews Hill and Vicarage Farm?

Government documents and reporting (Enfield Dispatch) set out that the new town programme identifies Crews Hill and Vicarage Farm as locations for significant development to meet housing demand, with an estimated 21,000 homes proposed for the area.

The scheme would involve de-designation of hundreds of hectares of Green Belt land, allowing the creation of a planned new town intended to deliver homes, jobs and infrastructure.

What has Enfield Council’s new administration done in response?

As reported by James Cracknell (Enfield Dispatch), Alessandro Georgiou, the leader of Enfield’s new minority Conservative administration, wrote to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to formally withdraw the council from the government’s new towns process. Councillor Georgiou’s letter stated the administration would not support the project, and the council is awaiting an official response from MHCLG.

Could the council be stripped of planning powers — and how?

Multiple reports, including the Enfield Dispatch coverage by James Cracknell, indicate that Whitehall has considered using a mayoral development corporation (MDC) to deliver the project, the same delivery model used for the Olympic Park in the Lea Valley.

The use of an MDC would transfer planning authority for the affected area away from Enfield Council and place it under a mayoral or regional body, effectively sidelining local planning decisions where the new town is proposed.

What role might the Mayor of London and Transport for London play?

According to the Downing Street statement highlighted by James Cracknell (Enfield Dispatch), the government is discussing with the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, the possibility of bringing services on the Hertford Loop — the Great Northern route from Moorgate to Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage — under Transport for London control.

This change, the statement said, could improve reliability and connections that the proposed new town would rely on. Reports also note that the Mayor has previously expressed interest in running additional suburban routes as part of the London Overground network.

How do local election results and public opinion factor into this dispute?

Local election results on 7 May showed strong public support for parties pledging to protect the Green Belt, with 77% of Enfield voters backing such parties, as reported by the Enfield Dispatch. Despite that, the council’s political makeup changed:

a minority Conservative administration formed after newly elected Green councillors abstained on the key vote at the council’s annual meeting. Both the Conservatives and Greens had pledged to oppose the new town during the campaign.

What justification has Downing Street given for intervening?

The Downing Street statement, relayed by James Cracknell (Enfield Dispatch), framed national intervention as necessary when projects

“have stalled or been watered down.”

The statement said the government would back mayors to “push them through” to unlock homes, infrastructure and jobs, stressing decisions on new towns should be taken “in the national interest” rather than being stymied by local objections.

What are the immediate next steps or likely procedural moves?

Reporting indicates that MHCLG and central government will consider mechanisms to press ahead, including conversations with the Mayor of London about creating a mayoral development corporation and negotiating TfL control of rail services.

Enfield Council has formally withdrawn from the process and is awaiting a response, while Downing Street is arranging a meeting with mayors to discuss accelerating growth and housing delivery.

What do local councillors and campaigners say about the proposals?

As reported by James Cracknell (Enfield Dispatch), councillors and local campaigners who backed protection of the Green Belt during the election remain opposed to the new town proposals.

Their objections focus on environmental impact, loss of Green Belt, and concerns about whether infrastructure and community facilities would be sufficient to support a large new development. The council’s formal withdrawal letter from Cllr Georgiou reiterated these local concerns.

What legal or planning mechanisms exist if the council refuses to cooperate?

The government can use national planning powers and delivery mechanisms, such as mayoral development corporations and potential changes to planning status, to pursue developments despite local opposition.

The creation of an MDC would require primary action from central government and agreement (or direction) involving the Mayor’s office, and could lawfully transfer planning powers for the specific area concerned.

What does this mean for transport in and around Enfield?

Downing Street’s statement positions improved public transport as integral to the new town plan. Bringing Hertford Loop services under TfL control could change service patterns, frequencies and ticketing, potentially improving local rail reliability and connections.

Such a transfer would involve negotiations with existing train operators and the Department for Transport, and could be handled as part of broader rail reforms or local transport devolution.

What are the broader political implications?

The intervention represents a flashpoint between central government ambitions for housing delivery and local resistance grounded in Green Belt protection.

It also illustrates the government’s willingness to use devolved or mayoral structures to bypass or override local councils where it deems necessary to meet national housing targets.

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Background of the development

The new towns programme forms part of a broader UK government strategy to accelerate housebuilding and unlock land for development amid a chronic shortage of homes. Crews Hill and Vicarage Farm lie in the north-west of Enfield borough, an area currently designated as Green Belt, which restricts new development to preserve open space and prevent urban sprawl.

The concept of using mayoral development corporations to deliver large-scale regeneration projects is not new; it was a key delivery model for the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, where strategic planning powers were vested in an MDC to coordinate land assembly, infrastructure and development.

Enfield has previously been identified by government planners as suitable for a new town given proximity to transport corridors and perceived housing need. However, Green Belt protections and local opposition have long complicated proposals for large-scale building in the borough.

The local political context shifted in the May local elections, with a sizeable proportion of voters electing representatives who pledged to defend the Green Belt. That electoral mandate underpins Enfield Council’s decision to withdraw from the new towns programme.

Meanwhile, central government has emphasised that national housing needs and long-term economic growth can justify intervention where local authorities are judged to be blocking delivery.

Prediction — How this development can affect Enfield residents and stakeholders

• Short-term planning uncertainty: Residents and developers can expect a period of heightened uncertainty as MHCLG, the Mayor’s office and Downing Street discuss delivery mechanisms. This may delay or complicate other local planning decisions and investment in the short term.
• Potential loss of local planning control: If a mayoral development corporation is created, Enfield Council could lose planning authority for the north-west area, reducing the council’s direct influence over design, phasing and local mitigation measures.
• Pressure on Green Belt and local environment: The proposed de-designation of Green Belt land for up to 21,000 homes would lead to substantial change in landscape and local ecology, affecting agriculture, green spaces and public access. Local residents who value the Green Belt would see a tangible loss of protected open land.
• Infrastructure and transport outcomes: If TfL assumes control of Hertford Loop services and investment follows, some residents could benefit from improved rail reliability and frequency, better connections to central London and integrated fares. Conversely, the scale of housing planned would also demand significant additional local infrastructure—schools, health services, roads and utilities—which may lag behind housing delivery and place pressure on existing services.
• Political and community division: The intervention is likely to deepen local political divisions between residents and councillors opposed to the scheme and national actors promoting it. This could influence future local elections and community activism.
• Economic and housing supply effects: Over the medium term, if the new town is delivered, the increased housing supply could ease local pressures on house prices and provide new homes for commuters and families. The local economy might gain from construction jobs and later from new retail and services, though distribution of economic benefits would depend on how developments are phased and what affordable housing commitments are enforced.
• Legal and procedural challenges: Opponents may mount legal challenges or seek judicial review of any decision to de-designate Green Belt or transfer planning powers. Such challenges could delay delivery and raise the costs of the scheme.