Policy information sourced from the Tower Hamlets Local Plan

S.H1 Meeting housing needs

1) We will secure the delivery of at least 58,965 new homes across the borough (equating to at least 3,931 new homes per year) between 2016 and 2031. This will be achieved through:

  • focusing the majority of new housing in the opportunity areas and site allocations (as shown on the Policies Map)
  • ensuring development does not undermine the supply of selfcontained housing - in particular family homes
  • resisting development that would result in a net loss of residential floorspace or family units
  • housing estate regeneration schemes delivering homes which meet housing need and provide improved social facilities and environmental amenity, and
  • working to return vacant homes back to use

2) Development will be expected to contribute towards the creation of mixed and balanced communities that respond to local and strategic need. This will be achieved through:

  • setting an overall target for 50% of all new homes to be affordable, to be achieved through:
    • securing affordable homes from a range of council-led initiatives
    • requiring the provision of affordable housing contributions on sites providing 2 to 9 new residential units against a sliding-scale target (subject to viability)
    • requiring the provision of a minimum of 35% affordable housing on sites providing 10 or more new residential units (subject to viability), and
    • requiring a mix of rented and intermediate affordable tenures to meet the full range of housing needs.
  • requiring a mix of unit sizes and tenures to meet local need on all sites providing new housing
  • supporting a variety of housing products in the market and affordable tenures which meet local need, and
  • complying with our duty to support local demand for self-build.

All housing must be well-designed, sustainable and take appropriate account of cumulative development. Developments are strongly encouraged to demonstrate this through meeting the Home Quality Mark standard.

Development will be supported which seeks to meet the needs of specific communities, including:

  • Older people
  • Disabled and vulnerable people
  • Students
  • Gypsies and travellers, through safeguarding the existing gypsy and traveller site at Old Willow Close and seeking to deliver additional safeguarded pitches adjacent to the site, following the completion of the Elizabeth line.

For more information please see the Local Plan