Havering is falling far short of its annual housebuilding targets for new family homes – though numbers have started to increase.
In 2019/20, just 21% of the borough’s annual target for family homes (three or more bedrooms) were built.
This rose to 31% in 2020/21 and 37% in 2021/22, representing a consistent rise, though still only around a third of those demanded.
The data was included in a report published ahead of Havering Council's places overview and scrutiny committee meeting on Thursday night (December 8).
According to the Outer North East London Strategy Housing Market Assessment 2016, which covers Havering, Redbridge and Barking and Dagenham, 64% of all market housing in the borough should be three-bed properties, and 16% four-bed or more.
For affordable housing, these figures were 40%, and 10%.
The council’s report did note how planning committee members “often raise concerns about the level of family housing within schemes that are presented to them”.
It added it is anticipated the adoption of the Havering Local Plan in November 2021 will result in a growing number of family homes in new developments.
Several large projects, such as the Waterloo Estate, the former Romford ice rink and New Green are noted in the report. However, the only one where three-bed homes constitute more than 50% is the Havering College of Further Education scheme.
Following the scrutiny meeting, Cllr Paul McGeary, cabinet member for housing, told the Recorder: “We want to create more family homes, that’s definite. In terms of the regeneration programme, there have been challenges in terms of being a bit behind.”
He added the the Havering Residents’ Association/Labour administration is now trying to “get on moving forward”.
“Certainly, it’s a priority of this administration to make sure we are building a good number of family units.”
According to the London Plan 2021, which the Havering Local Plan interprets for the borough, Havering is expected to build 12,850 new homes a year between 2019/20 and 2028/29, equating to 1,285 annually.
Within this are targets such as affordable housing, with 50% of all new builds meant to be genuinely affordable.
An update on the Havering Local Plan is currently being worked on, though Cllr McGeary said timings for when this is to be complete are currently unknown.
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