'No-brainer' 15,000-home plan for 'new town' to help solve London housing crisis

Thamesmead Waterfront must be approved as one of the Government’s ambitious ‘New Towns’ to help solve London’s housing crisis, ministers have been told.

Up to 15,000 homes could be built on the 100-hectare site in southeast London which was shortlisted by the Government as one of 12 possible ‘New Towns’ across the country. The project, which is being run by housing association Peabody, received a boost late last year when the Chancellor announced Central Government backing for a DLR extension to Thamesmead, with the station set to sit near the site.

However, it is still subject to final Government approval, with a decision set to be made in spring following a Strategic Environmental Assessment. On Thursday (January 22) the London Assembly Planning and Regeneration Committee visited the site as part of an investigation into how ‘New Towns’ would work in practice in London, with the Local Democracy Reporting Service joining the visit.

James Small-Edwards, the Labour Assembly Member who chairs the committee, said it was an “complete no-brainer” for the scheme to go forward in Thamesmead.

“You’ve got Peabody ready to go, you’ve go the DLR extension now approved by the Government – it’s a really exciting site, I think it’d be great for London,” he told the LDRS.

“It’s really important to bring down the number of people on housing waiting lists as well – I hope that we’ll get a stamp of approval in the spring.”

The capital is facing a substantial housing shortage, with more than 336,000 people currently on social housing waiting lists.

Meanwhile, the number of private homes being started by developers fell by 84 per cent between 2015 and 2025, something the Mayor of London has blamed on a “perfect storm” of factors making it more difficult to build.

However, Peabody say they are ready to start work at the Thamesmead site as soon as they receive Government approval, with their aim being to construct 15,000 homes in land that is now unused.

Alongside Thamesmead, the other one of the 12 proposed schemes that sits within London is an expanded development bringing together Chase Park and Crews Hill in Enfield.

Mr Small-Edwards said the idea of New Towns is a “great way to meet the really ambitious housing targets” set by ministers and City Hall. London is currently required to deliver 88,000 homes a year for the next decade to meet the capital’s needs.