In a separate competition for the creation of two new towns, Enfield and Greenwich have appeared on the short list. These plans are ambitious attempts to address London’s worsening housing crisis. Enfield Council leader Ergin Erbil announced that the project could see the construction of up to 21,000 homes, with a commitment to building infrastructure to support these new communities.
Like many communities, Enfield finds itself in the throes of an extremely unique housing boom. Each month about 500 families come to the council, looking for help preventing homelessness. This shocking number emphasizes the critical lack of available housing options in the region.
As Erbil said at a recent council meeting, “When I became a councillor eight years ago, we didn’t get 500 families in a year. Now we’re getting 500 families a month!” The council intends to prioritize constructing more affordable units to house low-income families. They will commit to designating 6,000 of these new residences as council homes.
Erbil emphasized the importance of infrastructure development alongside housing, stating, “We will build the infrastructure. There will be GP surgeries, schools, leisure facilities. We will have lots of nice public parks, lots of nice public amenities, local shops, so it’s not just going to be homes. It’s going to be a brand new town.”
The announcement received both excitement and confusion from many residents. Housing advocates are enthused about the new opportunities. Proponents argue about the tremendous positive impact on local infrastructure and green spaces. Alison, a mother and resident of Enfield, shared her discomfort with the project. She called it a “disaster” in the making that would “devastate” the greenbelt.
In December, the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, expressed similar concerns about possible environmental damage. He added that the challenge was to safeguard fine countryside and green belt while meeting targets for new homes. Most importantly, Khan advised the government to concentrate construction in places that do not destroy existing natural oases.
Reacting to the government’s announcement to pursue new towns, Tom Copley, deputy mayor of London for housing welcomed the move. He described it as “fantastic news” and stressed the need for the right transport infrastructure to access developments like these. Copley argues that provided there is proper planning and investment, these new towns can create complete communities for Londoners to live in.
Ben Twomey of Generation Rent highlighted the bigger impact of this housing campaign. He did this, of course, against the backdrop of the worsening cost-of-living crisis. He said that Londoners are being hit with a double whammy by extreme financial pressure due to soaring rents. This often forces so many into poverty and homelessness. He remarked, “Londoners are being squeezed so tightly by the cost of rent that we find ourselves pushed into poverty, homelessness, and debt before we even have a chance to find somewhere else to live.”
In support of this initiative, Twomey underscored the need for affordable homes. “The most important thing for us to see is that there are affordable homes.” He put the urgent need to build faster to a safety lens. Taken together with the right environmental scrutiny, this will be key to relieving pressure on Londoners.
The proposal has injected dramatic new life into discussions among policymakers. It has deeply affected non-profit organizations such as the Crews Hill Golf Club. Members were alarmed at the possibility of new developments endangering their local green spaces. One member stated it would be “very sad” if the golf club were lost, emphasizing its importance for physical and mental well-being among locals.
The announcement of the final locations and funding for all of the new towns is expected from government in spring 2024. As these developments unfold, residents and officials will continue to engage in discussions about balancing housing needs with environmental and community concerns.
