Havering Council has raised serious concerns over the new London Plan’s push for high-density housing and potential green belt development, fearing it will clash with local plans prioritising family homes and preserving the borough’s character amid growing financial and planning constraints.
Havering Council has voiced strong concerns over the proposed new London Plan, warning that it could undermine the borough’s carefully crafted housing ambitions. For the past six weeks, councils across the capital have been consulting on the plan that aims to shape development policy for the next decade, reflecting London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s urgent push to address what he calls a “housing crisis.”
In his foreword to the plan, Khan emphasises the seriousness of London’s housing shortage and calls for more flexible local planning to accelerate housing delivery. Part of this approach includes suggesting standard building heights for areas that share similar characteristics across London. However, Havering Council fears this could conflict with its own detailed assessment of the borough’s character and result in inappropriate density levels. Earlier this year, the council completed a character study proposing zones for “gentle densification” in places like Romford town centre, Beam Park, and near the Elizabeth Line station in Harold Wood — developments that are intended to be sympathetic to the existing environment.
The council is particularly wary that the plan’s push for higher density housing, possibly in the form of tower blocks, may not align with this vision. Tower block proposals, such as those for the Como Street car park, have already met strong resistance from residents concerned about the impact on local character and infrastructure. While the Mayor’s office acknowledges the sensitivity of tall building clusters, it insists the new plan should take a more “active role” in defining locations for such developments.
A key aspect of Havering’s argument is the borough’s rising population of young families, which drives a pressing need for family-sized homes rather than predominantly high-density housing. The council urges that the London Plan should explicitly support family housing in boroughs that demonstrate a significant need. This contrasts with the Mayor’s broader target for London to build 88,000 new homes a year, or roughly 880,000 homes over the next decade — a significant increase from the previous goal of just over 522,000. However, individual borough targets remain unpublished, leaving uncertainty about the precise burden on Havering and others.
This escalating demand has brought additional worries about the future of Havering’s green belt areas. The Greater London Authority has initiated a review of green and ‘grey’ belt land for potential “large-scale urban extensions,” including possible new transportation routes. Despite no specific sites being disclosed, local residents and conservationists have expressed alarm over potential encroachments on green spaces that are vital for wildlife and the borough’s suburban character. Mayor Khan’s plan contemplates releasing some green belt land under strict conditions, including requirements for affordable housing, sustainable transport links, and access to green spaces. Yet, the prospect of developing these cherished green areas remains controversial and deeply sensitive.
Havering, meanwhile, is undertaking its own green belt survey to gather evidence in support of its Local Plan, a document guiding development at the local level. This effort may help the borough push back against unwanted development encroachments or negotiate terms that better align with community priorities.
Underlying these planning challenges is the council’s increasingly constrained position. Recent reporting highlights Havering Council’s reduced power to reject housing developments, due to a “presumption in favour of sustainable development” that favours granting permission unless projects produce significant harm. This shift stems from the council’s ongoing struggle to meet housing targets and the government’s insistence on housing delivery. Furthermore, Havering faces financial difficulties, with the council leader warning of potential bankruptcy without a £54 million government loan. This financial strain complicates the council’s ability to manage social care, infrastructure, and housing pressures simultaneously.
The wider London context also includes intense debate over planning reforms proposed by central government, which Mayor Khan criticises as rushed and potentially damaging to local accountability and delivery of homes. Against this backdrop, Havering’s concerns about the new London Plan underscore the complex challenge of balancing urgent housing needs with preserving local character, green spaces, and community wellbeing.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Verification / Sources
- https://www.yellowad.co.uk/havering-warns-london-plan-may-undermine-housing-plans/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=havering-warns-london-plan-may-undermine-housing-plans – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.thehaveringdaily.co.uk/2025/05/14/haverings-greenbelt-under-threat-will-sadiq-khans-housing-plans-turn-our-green-fields-into-flats/ – This article discusses concerns in Havering about Mayor Sadiq Khan’s proposal to build on parts of London’s green belt to address the housing crisis. Residents and conservationists fear that developing these areas could lead to the loss of wildlife habitats and green spaces, transforming the borough’s landscape and affecting its suburban character.
- https://www.thehaveringdaily.co.uk/2025/04/23/special-report-havering-council-under-fire-for-tower-block-building-but-who-sets-the-housing-targets-and-just-who-should-residents-blame/ – The article examines the pressures Havering Council faces in meeting housing targets set by the Mayor of London and the UK Government. It highlights the challenges of balancing development with preserving the borough’s character and infrastructure, noting that failing to meet targets can lead to increased development pressures and potential overdevelopment.
- https://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/news/23384298.havering-council-reduced-power-reject-housing-plans/ – This piece reports on Havering Council’s reduced ability to reject housing developments due to not meeting set targets. The council’s planning decisions are now subject to a ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development,’ meaning developments are more likely to be approved unless significant adverse impacts are identified.
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4ndlpwm8edo – The article details Havering Council’s financial struggles, with leader Ray Morgon warning of potential bankruptcy without a £54 million government loan. The council faces challenges balancing its budget amid rising costs and pressures, including housing demands and social care expenses.
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy73n9kxyjo – This report covers Mayor Sadiq Khan’s announcement to explore building on parts of London’s green belt to address the housing crisis. The plan aims to release some green belt land for development, provided conditions on affordable housing, energy efficiency, transport links, and access to green spaces are met.
- https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/mayoral/mayor-warns-planning-reforms-risk-undoing-progress – The article discusses Mayor Sadiq Khan’s response to the government’s proposed overhaul of the planning system. He criticises the reforms as ‘ill-conceived, rushed and damaging,’ expressing concerns that they could undermine local accountability and hinder the delivery of new homes and infrastructure in London.
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