Statement on Havering Council's Vision and Housing Development

Following recent discussion in the local media about Havering Council’s new Vision and levels of housing development, Councillor Roger Ramsey, Leader of Havering Council, wishes to clarify the Council’s position. 
 
Speaking on the subject, he said:

“There is a need for more housing, and particularly affordable housing, in Havering. If we don’t address this, then young people growing up in the area won’t be able to get on the property ladder or stay in the borough. Our new Vision, as passed by Cabinet in February, did not give a specific number of homes, but said that high-quality, suitable and affordable homes would be built.
 
“That said, to comply with national planning rules we had to assess the need for housing in Havering in a prescribed way. This showed a need for 1,366 homes each year. This is slightly higher than the Mayor of London’s housing target for Havering, which already requires us to aim to build at least 1,170 homes a year across the whole borough.  If we don’t come up with plans to meet this, we’ll fall foul of national rules and planning decisions will be taken out of our hands altogether.

“We’re working to ensure that any new development is of a high quality and happens in the right places. To help do this, we’re developing a new Havering Local Plan to deliver the Vision and update our planning policies. It will give us better control over new development at a local level.”
 
The Local Plan is due to go to Cabinet for approval on the Wednesday 19 July and then to full Council on Wednesday 26 July. Consultation on the Local Plan is due to take place over the summer.