The Cabinet of Enfield Council met on Wednesday 14 January 2026, approving the Enfield Chase Landscape Recovery Project and the disposal of surplus Green Belt land at New Cottage Farm. The meeting also included a review of the Quarter 2 2025/26 Performance Report.

Enfield Chase Landscape Recovery Project

The Cabinet agreed to proceed with the Enfield Chase Landscape Recovery Project, a significant environmental initiative aimed at restoring nature across approximately 1,500 hectares of farmland and parkland in the north-west of Enfield. This project, which will be the largest rewilding project in London, aims to deliver a wide range of benefits including increased climate resilience, improved access to nature for recreation, and the creation of vital habitats for wildlife.

Key decisions made include:

• Proceeding with the project.
• Enfield Council acting as the Single Legal Entity (SLE) for the project, responsible for its delivery and management over a minimum of 20 years.
• Approving the entry into a long-term funding agreement with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
• Delegating authority to the Executive Director of Environment & Communities to finalise the Project Implementation Plan and to procure and award contracts for works and services.
• Noting the Blended Finance Plan, which outlines a mix of public grant funding, private investment, and income from carbon and biodiversity markets.
• Acknowledging that any disposal of Green Belt or open space may be subject to Cabinet approval, public advertisement, and Secretary of State consent.

The project aligns with the Council Plan's ambition to become the greenest borough in London, Enfield's Climate Action Plan, and the Blue and Green Strategy. It is expected to contribute significantly to carbon sequestration, flood risk reduction, and improved public health through increased access to nature. The financial implications are substantial, with a projected total expenditure of £78 million over 20 years, largely funded by Defra and supplemented by private investment and other sources. The Council acting as the SLE is considered the most robust, accountable, and financially secure delivery model, avoiding the complexities and costs associated with establishing a separate legal entity.

Surplus Property Disposal – Land at New Cottage Farm, J24, M25, The Ridgeway, Enfield

The Cabinet agreed to the disposal of a 27.6-acre parcel of Green Belt land located south of the M25 motorway, north of The Ridgeway, and east of Junction 24 of the M25. This land, which spans both the London Borough of Enfield and Hertsmere Borough Council, has been declared surplus to operational requirements.

The decision to approve the sale is subject to obtaining consent from the Secretary of State and the Duchy of Lancaster, as the land is subject to restrictive covenants related to its use as Green Belt land. The sale is to a buyer identified in a confidential appendix, with the purchase price exceeding the existing use market value.

Key actions approved include:

• Authorising the Director of Property to finalise the Heads of Terms for the sale and agree to any variations, excluding financial terms.
• Noting that the Leader of the Council will consider any representations received following statutory advertisement before proceeding with the disposal.
• Authorising the Director of Property to negotiate and enter into agreements with third parties if any rights affect the property.
• Agreeing to submit applications to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) and the Duchy of Lancaster for consent to the sale and proposed end use.
• Authorising the Director of Property, in consultation with the Executive Director of Environment and Communities, to agree any variation to the sale price within acceptable valuation limits.
• Noting that all agreements will be approved by Legal Services.

The disposal is expected to generate a capital receipt for the Council, contributing to its capital strategy targets. The land is currently undeveloped agricultural land, earning negligible rental income, and its sale is considered to represent best consideration for the Council with minimal expenditure. Legal implications include compliance with Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 regarding best consideration and Section 123(2A) concerning the disposal of open space, as well as obtaining necessary consents from DLUHC and the Duchy of Lancaster.

Quarter 2 2025/26 Performance Report

The Cabinet noted the Quarter 2 2025/26 Performance Report, which provides an update on the Council's performance in delivering its priorities as set out in the Council Plan 2023-26. The report details performance against Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), categorised as Red, Amber, or Green (RAG) rated.

Key achievements highlighted in the report include:

• National recognition for service improvement, with the Council winning the GovMetric Award 2025 for enhancing customer experience.
• The Planning Service receiving the Planning Service of the Year award at the Building London Planning Awards.
• Significant progress in housing, with 1,411 new homes approved.
• Environmental improvements, including the clearance of 3,674 fly tips.
• Strong community safety, with Enfield recording one of the lowest rates of notifiable offences among London boroughs.
• Progress in public health initiatives, such as the launch of SmokeFree Enfield.
• High standards maintained in education and children's services, with 97.7% of early years providers rated good or outstanding by Ofsted.
• Improved Key Stage 2 attainment, with 65% of pupils meeting expected standards in reading, writing, and maths.
• Service delivery and compliance remaining a focus, with repairs completed 'right first time' improving to 90.4%.
• Strengthened financial resilience, with Council Tax arrears reducing from £52.7 million to £45.3 million.

The report also details performance across various priority areas, including clean and green places, strong healthy and safe communities, thriving children and young people, more and better homes, an economy that works for everyone, and accessible and responsive services. While many indicators are performing well, some areas show performance below target, with specific actions outlined to address these. For instance, the percentage of household waste sent for recycling is below target, and the number of new electric vehicle charging points installed remains at zero, although procurement for 1,000 points is nearing completion. The report also notes a slight increase in households in temporary accommodation due to a rise in homeless approaches, although the number of families with children in Bed and Breakfast accommodation for more than six weeks has significantly reduced.