Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Better Homes Enfield

@betterhomesenfield.bsky.social

120 followers 180 following 58 posts

Enfield residents who want homes built in Enfield to be happy and safe places to live. https://betterhomes-enfield.org/

betterhomes-enfield.org

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Better Homes Enfield @betterhomesenfield.bsky.social · Feb 11

Enfield’s proposed new Local Plan has sparked considerable debate and is currently being examined by the Government’s Planning Inspector. One concern we have about the Plan, is the absence of policies for Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs).

betterhomes-enfield.org/2025/02/11/r...

Risks of Removing HMO Policies in Enfield’s New Local Plan

Enfield’s proposed new Local Plan has sparked considerable debate and is currently being examined by the Government’s Planning Inspector. One concern we have about the Plan, is the absence of…

betterhomes-enfield.org

Better Homes Enfield @betterhomesenfield.bsky.social · 1d

Planning for the future is essential, but it must not come at the expense of action to help renters and households now.

@generationrent.bsky.social are absolutely right to point out New Town plans for Crews Hill will take years to complete and to push for rent controls.

Enfield Dispatch @enfielddispatch.bsky.social · 1d

Mixed responses to 'New Town' plans

Residents have a range of views on possible government backing for large numbers of home in Crews Hill and Chase Park reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter
enfielddispatch.co.uk/?p=22363

Mixed responses to 'New Town' plans

Residents have a range of views on possible government backing for large numbers of home in Crews Hill and Chase Park reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

enfielddispatch.co.uk

Better Homes Enfield @betterhomesenfield.bsky.social · 3d

Enfield Council promised a greener, cleaner borough when they declared a climate emergency but recycling rates are falling, waste is rising, and incinerator emissions are being ignored.

Enfield Dispatch @enfielddispatch.bsky.social · 3d

Why is Enfield Council failing on recycling?

In the second of a series scrutinising Enfield Council’s progress on meeting climate targets, Carol Fisk of Enfield Climate Action Forum's land use working group examines progress on waste and
enfielddispatch.co.uk/why-is-enfie...

Why is Enfield Council failing on recycling?

In the second of a series scrutinising Enfield Council’s progress on meeting climate targets, Carol Fisk of Enfield Climate Action Forum's land use working group examines progress on waste and recycling

enfielddispatch.co.uk

Better Homes Enfield @betterhomesenfield.bsky.social · 4d

It may well be easier for them to get planning permission in the future

betterhomes-enfield.org/2025/02/11/r...

Risks of Removing HMO Policies in Enfield’s New Local Plan

Enfield’s proposed new Local Plan has sparked considerable debate and is currently being examined by the Government’s Planning Inspector. One concern we have about the Plan, is the absence of…

betterhomes-enfield.org

Better Homes Enfield @betterhomesenfield.bsky.social · 5d

The new town proposal for Crews Hill will cover over 884 hectares of land but no map has been published to show where the boundary would be and neither the council nor government has answered questions from the Enfield Dispatch around this.

Enfield Dispatch @enfielddispatch.bsky.social · 5d

Labour MP vows to 'ensure local people are involved' in new town plans

The government has named Crews Hill and 'Chase Park' as potentially suitable for 21,000 homes
enfielddispatch.co.uk/labour-mp-vo...

Labour MP vows to 'ensure local people are involved' in new town plans

The government has named Crews Hill and 'Chase Park' as potentially suitable for 21,000 homes

enfielddispatch.co.uk

Better Homes Enfield @betterhomesenfield.bsky.social · 5d

“... shocking to hear the chancellor boast allowing people with privileged access to try and circumvent some of these processes that have been put in place by parliament, and to hear the way that the chancellor just dismisses ecological science ...”
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Rachel Reeves clears planning blockage amid ‘good relationship’ with developer

Exclusive: Chancellor says 20,000 homes were being held up due to ‘some snails that are a protected species or something’

www.theguardian.com

Better Homes Enfield @betterhomesenfield.bsky.social · 6d

Cllr Erbil claims “500 homeless families a month”.

Official data puts it nearer 100.

Data: DLUHC homelessness tables for Enfield (2023–24 & Q1 2025)
www.gov.uk/government/s...

Tables on homelessness

The latest data tables on homelessness.

www.gov.uk

Reposted by Better Homes Enfield

Town and Country Planning Association @thetcpa.bsky.social · 6d

Chobham Manor is a London Olympic Legacy housing development, designed with the needs of young and intergenerational families at its core.

🔗 www.tcpa.org.uk/resources/bu...

This case study is from a new collection on child-friendly places, developed by the TCPA with A Place in Childhood.

1 1

Better Homes Enfield @betterhomesenfield.bsky.social · 6d

Anything that helps first-time buyers is welcome, especially in places like Enfield, where affordability’s a real barrier. But calling it “the biggest shake-up to the homebuying system in this country’s history” might be stretching it.

www.gov.uk/government/n...

Families to save hundreds of pounds in major homebuying overhaul

First-time buyers set to save money when buying a home and timelines reduced with a new consultation launched by the Government.

www.gov.uk

Better Homes Enfield @betterhomesenfield.bsky.social · 10d

Enfield Council overlooked land on one of their own developments with an estimated gross development value of around a quarter-of-a-billion pounds - land purchased at considerable expense to the taxpayer.

Enfield Dispatch @enfielddispatch.bsky.social · 10d

Missing sites at Meridian Water added to Local Plan ahead of stage three hearings

Enfield Council has been accused of a "major oversight" by not including the sites in its original draft of the plan
enfielddispatch.co.uk/missing-site...

Missing sites at Meridian Water added to Local Plan ahead of stage three hearings

Enfield Council has been accused of a "major oversight" by not including the sites in its original draft of the plan

enfielddispatch.co.uk

1 1

Better Homes Enfield @betterhomesenfield.bsky.social · 11d

But wasn't all of this known about before the 1.5 million homes target for England was set?

Enfield Dispatch @enfielddispatch.bsky.social · 11d

Lack of skilled workers worsening London housing crisis, says deputy mayor

Tom Copley blamed construction skills shortages for exacerbating an already struggling construction industry
enfielddispatch.co.uk/lack-of-skil...

Lack of skilled workers worsening London housing crisis, says deputy mayor

Tom Copley blamed construction skills shortages for exacerbating an already struggling construction industry

enfielddispatch.co.uk

Better Homes Enfield @betterhomesenfield.bsky.social · 12d

Boldness Without Respect: Crews Hill’s Businesses Deserve Better. Why Enfield’s New Town Vision Risks Jobs and Community

@thetcpa.bsky.social;

betterhomes-enfield.org/2025/09/30/b...

Boldness Without Respect: Crews Hill’s Businesses Deserve Better

Why Enfield’s New Town Vision Risks Jobs and Community The “bold vision” for Crews Hill, wrapped in the language of a New Town designation, is being sold as progress. But for the hundreds of people…

betterhomes-enfield.org

Better Homes Enfield @betterhomesenfield.bsky.social · 13d

Were any of those lessons about thinking about the impact on existing businesses and jobs before making announcements? People are now worried about their livelihoods. More empathy and partnership working is needed, but trust already damaged.

enfielddispatch.co.uk/crews-hill-b...

Crews Hill business owners express anger over 'new town' plans

The firms all say they've had no contact from the council and are being "left in limbo" over the fate of their livelihoods

enfielddispatch.co.uk

Better Homes Enfield @betterhomesenfield.bsky.social · 13d

There is no excuse for the way Enfield Council has treated these businesses and their employees. They have simply disregarded them rather than trying to work with them.

Better Homes Enfield @betterhomesenfield.bsky.social · 13d

It's a pity they were not more considerate about the impact of their announcement on peoples livelihoods. Much more effort should have been made to reassure these businesses and their employees, and to look to work with them.

enfielddispatch.co.uk/crews-hill-b...

Crews Hill business owners express anger over 'new town' plans

The firms all say they've had no contact from the council and are being "left in limbo" over the fate of their livelihoods

enfielddispatch.co.uk

Better Homes Enfield @betterhomesenfield.bsky.social · 13d

People are now understandably worried about their livelihoods. Enfield Council should have made far more effort to work with these businesses towards a joint future, and to try to reassure them and their staff. The council's approach seems unnecessarily callous and disrespectful.

James Cracknell @jollyjourno.bsky.social · 13d

I've spoken to business owners in Crews Hill about the government's plans a 'new town' of 21,000 homes centred on the area.

They're not happy.

My story for @enfielddispatch.bsky.social:
enfielddispatch.co.uk/crews-hill-b...

Crews Hill business owners express anger over 'new town' plans

The firms all say they've had no contact from the council and are being "left in limbo" over the fate of their livelihoods

enfielddispatch.co.uk

2 1

Better Homes Enfield @betterhomesenfield.bsky.social · 15d

Government says building at Crews Hill will start before 2029.
Is this realistic?

The site would not be allocated until 2026. Then there's master planning, the application/approval process, clearing pre-commencement conditions, not to mention CPOs.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Building of three new towns will start before election, Labour pledges

The housing secretary is expected to announce the plans on the first day of Labour's party conference.

www.bbc.co.uk

1 1

Better Homes Enfield @betterhomesenfield.bsky.social · 17d

In London, 56% of homeowners saying they plan to use their property to pay their way through retirement.

- Do we need more homes targeted to downsizers?
- Would this free up underoccupied homes?
- Are first-time buyers and downsizers competing for properties?

inews.co.uk/inews-lifest...

The homeowners who rely on their properties to fund retirement

Many property owners, especially those in London, find themselves with homes that have grown substantially in value which is helping them plan for retirement

inews.co.uk

Better Homes Enfield @betterhomesenfield.bsky.social · 18d

In the first three months of the year, 23 out of London’s 33 boroughs recorded zero housing starts.

www.standard.co.uk/business/lon...

London needs more new towns such as Thamesmead to hit its housing targets

In the first three months of the year, 23 out of London’s 33 boroughs recorded zero housing starts

www.standard.co.uk

2 1

Reposted by Better Homes Enfield

Francis Sealey @globalnet21.bsky.social · 19d

Allotments are a safe space in times of crisis

Dr Hannah Connelly on why the government needs to recognise the value of having more allotments in cities

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Allotments are a safe space in times of crisis | Letter

Letter: Dr Hannah Connelly on why the government needs to recognise the value of having more allotments in cities

www.theguardian.com

2 2

Better Homes Enfield @betterhomesenfield.bsky.social · 18d

This reports suggests there is sufficient brownfield land for 535,000 dwellings in London. Help is needed to unlock these sites. But, the 10-year target for London is 880,000 homes, so suitably located Green Belt sites will be needed to deliver these.

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Almost 1.5m homes could be built on brownfield sites in England, report finds

Exclusive: CPRE study suggests housebuilding targets can be met without encroaching on green belt land

www.theguardian.com

Better Homes Enfield @betterhomesenfield.bsky.social · 18d

The number of adults living with parents rose to 4.9m in 2021, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Research suggests nearly 98% could not afford to pay what the average first-time buyer pays for a house in their area.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

More young people say rising bills now stopping them moving out

A growing number of young adults now say the rising cost of running a home means they can't afford their own place.

www.bbc.co.uk

Better Homes Enfield @betterhomesenfield.bsky.social · 20d

Research shows 80% of Londoners say being near a station was important. Also 1.2 million UK homeowners aged 55+ had put plans to move on hold during the past two years despite initially considering it, and that a shortage of bungalows was “a major issue”
www.theguardian.com/business/202...

London homes 500 metres from station ‘command £42,700 premium over those 1,500 metres away’

Nationwide survey in London, Manchester and Glasgow shows pandemic trends may be reversing as more people return to office

www.theguardian.com

Better Homes Enfield @betterhomesenfield.bsky.social · 20d

Three children have been taken to hospital after a fire ripped through a three-storey block of flats in Enfield.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Fire crews tackle Enfield flat block blaze

The entire roof and most of the second floor were on fire at the north London flat block.

www.bbc.co.uk

Better Homes Enfield @betterhomesenfield.bsky.social · 24d

Yes, and letting the London Mayor set some rent controls would help and have a quicker impact, whilst the social rent homes needed hopefully get built

Better Homes Enfield @betterhomesenfield.bsky.social · 24d

Enfield Dispatch has done great work reporting this issue over several years.

No homeless families are now in hotels, but too many are being rehoused hundreds of miles away from friends, family & support. We need welfare reform and rent controls so families can stay in the community.

Enfield Dispatch @enfielddispatch.bsky.social · 24d

Council confirms no hotels now being used to house homeless Enfield families

It comes two years after a peak of 360 families were stuck living in hotel rooms
enfielddispatch.co.uk/council-conf...

Council confirms no hotels now being used to house homeless Enfield families

It comes two years after a peak of 360 families were stuck living in hotel rooms

enfielddispatch.co.uk