Sir Sadiq Khan was today accused of allowing a 'crusade' against London's Green Belt as plans emerged for 10,000 new homes on land used by the kings and queens of England.
Transport for London, which is run by the Mayor of London, has written to Enfield Council urging them to allow developers to bring thousands of additional new properties into Trent Park.
Trent Park in north London contains ancient woodland and an 18th-century country house built by George III on land loved by Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and James I.
Charlie Chaplin and Sir Winston Churchill were also visitors to the stately home, which was also used as a camp to hold German officers during the Second World War.
TFL has hinted at that 570 hectares of Green Belt land there could be suitable for housing – much larger than the 412 hectares proposed by Enfield Council.
This is despite its chairman, Mayor Khan, insisting that Green Field land in London should only be used for homes in 'exceptional circumstances'.
Trent Park in Enfield is at the heart of a plan for up to 10,000 new homes on Green Belt land
Enfield has suggested that around 410 hectares of land could be suitable for development. TFL suggests there could be more than 500
Enfield Tory councilor Alessandro Georgiou had urged Sir Sadiq Khan to intervene at Trent Park. The mayor insists he knew nothing about it, a claim disputed by Mr Georgiou.
“If TfL goes rogue and puts forward suggestions that go against your wishes, which I think are entirely reasonable when it comes to the Green Belt, then that doesn't sit well with you,” Mr Georgiou said.
'The Mayor's inability to commit to protecting historic parks, let alone other green spaces, is of great concern to me and I will not let this go until TfL's crusade against our parks is stopped.'
Sir Sadiq said during Mayor's Question Time last week that he was 'not aware' of TFL's response to Enfield.
The Labor mayor has repeatedly said he would not allow new homes to be built in the capital's Green Belt unless there are 'exceptional circumstances'.
TFL does not own the land at Trent Park. The plans for homes there will be discussed at a public meeting on Wednesday.
A Local Plan is a planning document that would allow the council to designate a Green Belt for several thousand homes to be built by developers, but only if approved.
Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan has stressed that his priority is the development of brownfield sites
TFL has submitted a written submission stating that the Green Belt suitability for the council, including Trent Park, has been underestimated.
'We want to work positively [with the council] with a view to a major development targeting Chase Park to deliver between 10,000 and 12,000 homes and the necessary infrastructure,” TfL said.
'Releasing Green Belt sites as set out in the draft Local Plan would represent a significant loss of opportunity and under-optimisation.'
Sir Sadiq Khan, chairman of TFL, has said his priority remains brownfield land over the Green Belt.
He has asked his Deputy Mayor for Transport, Seb Dance, to look at the queue in Enfield.
A spokesperson said: 'The mayor has always made it clear that he prefers to develop on brownfield sites first when identifying land for development. Sadiq is determined to help deliver the homes Londoners desperately need, as he continues to build a fairer London for all.”
