Green Belt / Local Plan

Hadley Wood is surrounded by Green Belt, which is protected from most forms of development.
Councils can remove land from the Green Belt (or add to it) through their Local Plan.
Enfield's draft Plan (click here) removes the Duchy of Lancaster owned fields off Crescent West from the Green Belt, for development of 160 or more new homes.
The Forum, HWA and ~1,000 local residents objected to these same proposals in the 2021 consultation.
We had reason to believe that the fields would be dropped from the proposals, but after political intervention the Plan continues to develop the land here, as well as Chase Park (at Vicarage Farm, opposite the Pick Your Own farm) and Crews Hill.
The proposals to build 9,000+ homes on current Green Belt land near us were supported by Labour Councillors, even though their position does not align with Labour's manifesto or statements on the Green Belt - they're proposing to build on previously developed land ('brownfield') and sites of lower quality that are visually less appealing ('grey belt'), with improvements to local infrastructure.
On 6 August 2024 Enfield Council submitted their final draft for examination - see here - and Steven Lee has been appointed as the independent examiner.

Regulation 19 public consultation

We were copied on a staggering 2,100 submissions by residents, more than double the 1,000 in the 2021 consultation!
Comments that were submitted to the Council have been passed on to the Independent Examiner.
The GLA / Mayor of London have published their submission, again criticising the Green Belt proposals.
We wrote a detailed representation, prepared with the help of expert consultants, including legal counsel:
Our (2021) Regulation 18 representation and supporting docs can be viewed by clicking on:

After reviewing the consultation feedback the Council has submitted the Plan to the Secretary of State, who has appointed Steven Lee as the Independent Examiner from the Planning Inspectorate in Bristol.
The examination will assess the Plan's legal compliance and soundness, by looking at whether it is:
- Positively prepared (strategy to meet the objectively assessed needs).
- Justified (chosen strategy is evidenced and reasonable alternatives considered).
- Effective and deliverable.
- Consistent with national policies/laws.
The Examiner will consider comments submitted during the consultation, and hold public hearings.
We hope to be represented by one of the country's leading planning barristers from Landmark Chambers.
The Examiner's report will have both optional and required changes that are binding.