Sadiq Khan has revealed he was unhappy with Enfield Council’s draft local plan and objected to its proposal to allow development on the green belt.

The Mayor of London said he was “committed to preserving and enhancing the green belt” and would be surprised if the council continued with plans to de-designate parts of the protected area to allow homes to be built.

Enfield Council’s draft local plan proposes releasing two green belt sites for development to provide around 6,000 new homes. The mayor objected to the first version of the plan, and the council is now consulting on an updated version.

During Mayor’s Question Time on Thursday (June 24), Mr Khan pointed out that his London Plan says the green belt should be protected from inappropriate development, and its boundaries should only be changed in “exceptional circumstances”.

Mr Khan said: “I was not happy with (the council’s) draft local plan, and I objected in relation to the draft plan having plans to remove green belt – de-designation.

“They respond to points raised in the consultation and come forward with their latest plan. We will have to wait and look at that and respond, then it goes to the inspector.

“Based on what I have said, I would be surprised if they continued with plans to de-designate.”

The mayor, who was responding to questions from Conservative London Assembly member Andrew Boff, said he would not be scared to object if any council had plans to de-designate green belt land “for reasons that I do not agree with”.

He added: “I will say this to leaders of councils who may be from my party…these are the lungs of our city, and according to my policies you would have to have an exceptional reason to de-designate.”

The mayor’s comments were welcomed by Conservatives. Mr Boff said: “I was very pleased to hear a clear statement of opposition from Sadiq Khan against the Labour leader of Enfield Council’s draft local plan proposals to allow development on the green belt.

“But if the mayor is serious about protecting our precious green spaces, I expect him to speak to his party colleagues in Enfield Council to stop their plan.”

Enfield Tory leader Cllr Joanne Laban commented: “I very much welcome the Mayor of London’s robust response on this issue. It is great to see the strength of feeling for the protection of the green belt from both GLA Conservatives and the mayor.”

Council leader Cllr Nesil Caliskan previously stated that the council needed to make “difficult choices” about growth and claimed the draft local plan would guard against the development of “inappropriate skyscrapers”.

An Enfield Council spokesperson said: “The Mayor of London in his Question Time response said that he was not happy with the previous version of Enfield’s draft local plan, not the latest version (published on June 21).

“The mayor reiterated London Plan policies and the need for exceptional circumstances to de-designate green belt. The council will be consulting with all statutory consultees, including the Greater London Authority, as part of the ongoing regulation 18 consultation.”

A Mayor of London spokesperson said: “The mayor is committed to protecting London’s green belt, and any plans to de-designate parts of it must be considered against his new London Plan.”