The London Assembly Planning and Regeneration Committee has warned that the government's planned New Towns in London risk becoming a wasted opportunity unless they are paired with robust transport links, high-quality green spaces, and a significant proportion of social housing from the outset.
Up to 36,000 homes are proposed across two sites: Thamesmead Waterfront in Greenwich, and Crews Hill and Chase Park in Enfield. These are among seven New Towns confirmed for mass development earlier this year as part of a national strategy to tackle the housebuilding crisis.
Committee report warns of past failures
In a report released on Wednesday July 1, the cross-party committee urged ministers to ensure the New Towns are well served by public transport, green infrastructure, and a diverse mix of affordable homes from 'day one' of residents moving in. The report states: '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, ultimately becoming places where people do not want to live and that make London less green and more vulnerable to climate impacts.'
The committee cited Skelmersdale, a New Town designated in 1961, as a cautionary example. Skelmersdale is now one of the largest towns in the UK without a railway station, highlighting the consequences of neglecting transport connectivity.
Transport and design recommendations
To avoid similar pitfalls, the committee recommended that New Towns be co-designed with current and future residents, underpinned by clear design principles and a masterplan, and prioritise social housing delivery. Specifically, they called for more frequent train services at Crews Hill station and for Transport for London to ensure the DLR extension from Gallions Reach to Thamesmead is completed on time. This would prevent connectivity issues like those at Beam Park, where 1,000 new homes were built but funding for a new local train station was only secured this year.
The committee also urged the government to announce a dedicated 'New Town Funding Grant', despite Baroness Taylor, the Lords Minister for Housing and Local Government, confirming that funding would come from various Whitehall departments.
Committee chair and local opposition
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. Done properly, New Towns should create well-connected, affordable and genuinely liveable communities from day one. Our recommendations set out the foundations needed to ensure that the proposed New Towns work for Londoners from day one.'
However, Enfield Council has withdrawn its support for the Crews Hill and Chase Park proposal. Council Leader Alessandro Georgiou, elected in May, cited damage to the Green Belt. The Centre for Cities think tank criticised this move, calling on the Mayor of London and ministers to intervene. City Hall said it will 'continue to work closely with councillors in Enfield to further develop plans at Crews Hill, including proposals for extensive consultation with the local community.' The government has confirmed it will challenge Enfield Council's refusal.
In response, Mr Georgiou told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: 'The people of Enfield made their views clear at the most recent local elections, they do not want a New Town imposed on us by the Government and Mayor of London. Enfield Council will do whatever it takes to save the Green Belt from destructive tower blocks.'
