Enfield new town plans face transport criticism
Academics warn 21,000-home development at Crews Hill and Chase Park will fail without early public transport investment.
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The UK government is considering a proposal for a 21,000-home development at Crews Hill and Chase Park in the north-west of Enfield borough. Academics from the University of Hertfordshire have warned that the new towns programme will not create sustainable communities unless good public transport is included from the start.
Concerns over existing transport links
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The University of Hertfordshire's smart mobility unit produced a report titled “Better Places: New Settlements with Transport that Works”. It argues that low-density, car-dependent housing increases congestion, carbon emissions, and pressure on infrastructure. The report highlights that Crews Hill railway station is currently served by only two trains per hour during off-peak periods. The Chase Park area, which is farmland around World's End, has no railway station. Bus services 121 and 307 run through Chase Park, connecting to Oakwood and Enfield Chase stations.
The report's co-authors, Stephen Joseph OBE and Sue Walsh, stated that recent UK housing development has often been low density, with limited services and public transport, leading to car dependence. They advocate for higher density housing built around sustainable public transport 'spines', citing Freiburg in Germany as a model. This approach allows for more efficient parking, streets that support walking and cycling, and reduced car ownership.
Political and local opposition
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Enfield North MP Feryal Clark has called for Chase Park to be removed from the new town plans. Local campaigners also delivered thousands of letters opposing the development to 10 Downing Street earlier this year. The government is committed to delivering 1.5 million new homes across the country.
Housing minister Matthew Pennycook informed a House of Lords committee that a decision on the seven shortlisted new town locations will be announced before the end of the year. The proposed development at Crews Hill and Chase Park is on land designated as Metropolitan Green Belt.
Questions this report answers
+What is being proposed for Crews Hill and Chase Park?
The UK government is considering a new town development that could include up to 21,000 homes in the Crews Hill and Chase Park areas of Enfield. This proposal is part of a wider government programme to build new towns.
+What are the main concerns raised about the development?
Academics warn the development will fail to create sustainable communities without high-quality public transport from the beginning. Existing transport links are limited, with Crews Hill station having only two off-peak trains per hour and Chase Park having no station.
+When will a decision be made on the new town plans?
A decision on the seven shortlisted new town locations, including Crews Hill and Chase Park, is expected to be announced by the government before the end of the year. The proposal is for development on Metropolitan Green Belt land.
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