A committee of politicians has asserted that approval is needed for a substantial new housing project in south-east London to alleviate the city’s housing crisis.
A plan to construct 15,000 homes on a brownfield site at Thamesmead has been selected as one of 12 prospective “new towns” nationwide aimed at fulfilling housing development goals.
Last year, the project received a significant boost when the Chancellor endorsed the extension of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) to the area; nonetheless, it is still pending official government validation.
During a recent site visit, the chair of the London Assembly Planning and Regeneration Committee labeled the proposal as a “no-brainer,” emphasizing that it would help decrease the number of households on council housing waiting lists.
The housing association Peabody has developed plans for the project, named Thamesmead Waterfront, which will occupy a 100-hectare (1 square kilometer) area.
The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government has been approached for a statement.
James Small-Edwards, a Labour Assembly Member, expressed to the Local Democracy Reporter Service:
“Peabody is prepared to move forward, and with the DLR extension now sanctioned by the Government, this is a truly promising location that could benefit London,” he remarked to the LDRS.
“It’s crucial to reduce the number of individuals on housing waiting lists, and I am hopeful that we will receive approval in the spring.”
The number of private housing projects initiated by developers has declined over the past decade, which the Mayor of London has attributed to a “perfect storm” of issues.
Nevertheless, Peabody has indicated its readiness to commence development at the site as soon as approval is granted.
In addition to Thamesmead, there are also developments planned for Chase Park and Crews Hill in Enfield.
Small-Edwards noted that the concept of “new towns” represents a “fantastic strategy to achieve the ambitious housing goals” established by government officials and City Hall.
London must produce 88,000 homes annually for the coming decade to satisfy its housing requirements.
He commented that the announcement of the DLR extension illustrates the significance of transport infrastructure in facilitating new housing in London and mentioned that a similar initiative to extend the Bakerloo Line would have comparable benefits.
“This extension has been transformative and has permitted the advancement of numerous homes, which will be incredibly advantageous for London residents,” he stated.
John Lewis, executive director at Peabody, pointed out that insufficient transport connections had historically hindered the area’s development.
“It’s essential to establish the necessary infrastructure before beginning any development, and that’s what this site requires.
Previous commitments have been lacking, which is the crucial difference this time. With assured transportation, we can be quite optimistic about the realization of the new town itself.”
