An opposition councillor says Enfield Council is 'far too slow' after it twice failed to get a multi-million pound housing project onto fast-track housing schemes.

The housing zone scheme was launched at Meridian Water, in Edmonton, and is a way of speeding up homes being built across London.

However, since being the site of the official launch by Mayor of London Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer in June last year, the project has yet to make either of the first two lists of zones announced by the Government since January.

The £1.5bn Meridian Water development will see 5,000 new homes and up to 3,000 new jobs created by 2017.

Cllr Joanne Laban, shadow cabinet member for environment, criticised the council for its speed in getting the sche,e onto the system.

She said: “This is a brilliant example of what a housing zone is and what better incentive than to get two political figures to actually launch the scheme at the site itself.

“But the council has failed to get onto either of the first two lists. They have been far too slow and it is only delaying what is needed in that part of the borough.

“Enfield should have been in pole position to be on the first or second list but that has not happened, they have been too slow.

"It is embarrassing that Tottenham, which is a competitor for us, has managed to gazump us to be on the first wave.”

The council's cabinet member for housing Cllr Ahmet Oykener dismissed the claims that the council has failed to get on with development and said the council had not aimed for either of the first two lists.

He said: “What we need to do is due diligence. We need to exchange land with the land owners and as far as I am aware, we have completed the agreements and we will be ready for the next list.

“I had this discussion many times and what the opposition have wanted us to do is compulsory purchase orders. We cannot just go to the Secretary of State and give a CPO, we have had positive negotiations and the deal is going ahead and we done the correct route.

“We have always aimed for the third list and the zone will give us funding that will open up more opportunities that we need to create the best site for everyone.”