London Assembly says new towns need transport and social housing

Two "new towns" planned for north and south-east London will only succeed if paired with good transport, green spaces and enough social housing, ministers have been told.

Up to 36,000 homes could be built at Crews Hill and Chase Park in Enfield and Thamesmead in Greenwich. Both were among seven New Towns confirmed this year to tackle the housing crisis.

The London Assembly's Planning and Regeneration Committee said the schemes needed transport, green space and affordable homes from "day one".

Committee chair James Small-Edwards said: "New Towns could be a real tool to help tackle London's housing crisis, but only if we get them right. This cannot be just about building homes in isolation."

In a report published on Wednesday, the cross-party group warned the scheme risked becoming a wasted opportunity.

It said: "We risk looking back on the New Towns programme as a project that created places with unsuitable housing, poor transport connections and low-quality green spaces."

Enfield Council said it would strongly oppose the town in the borough.

Alessandro Georgiou, elected leader of Enfield Council in May, withdrew his borough's support for Crews Hill and Chase Park, saying it would damage the green belt.

The Centre for Cities think tank criticised the move and urged the mayor and ministers to intervene.

The government has confirmed it will challenge Enfield's refusal. City Hall said it would "continue to work closely with councillors in Enfield".

Georgiou told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "The people of Enfield do not want a New Town imposed on us by the government and mayor of London."

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government was contacted for comment.

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