Havering Council has formally objected to the Government’s proposed London Emergency Housing Package and has released the following statement –

‘Under the proposals, local authorities would be required to grant temporary Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) relief to housing developments in certain circumstances and accept a significant expansion of Mayoral powers over planning decisions.

The proposals would remove millions of pounds needed to deliver essential local infrastructure for schools, health facilities, plus transport improvements and community amenities at precisely the moment Government is asking boroughs to deliver more homes. Havering has made clear in the official response letter to Government that both measures are unacceptable.

Since the Local CIL was introduced in 2010, Havering has collected around £9.6 million from developers to support infrastructure. Reducing this income stream for up to two years would leave no alternative source of funding, placing even more unsustainable pressure on the Council and existing services as well as weakening public trust in the planning system.

At the same time, proposals to allow the Mayor of London to take over applications of more than 50 homes represent, in Havering’s view, an unjustified centralisation of powers that would make planning decisions more remote and less accountable to local communities.

It is also important to be clear that there is no evidence the CIL is a barrier to development. Greater pressures come from wider market conditions outside the Councils control. Removing CIL would do nothing to resolve the true causes of stalled development, while it would significantly undermine the Council’s ability to fund the essential infrastructure our communities rely on.’

To see the statement in full visit the Havering Council London Emergency Housing Package webpage.

By Editor on 15th February 2026   /   News   /   Leave a comment