Havering Council has revealed that construction has been stopped on one of its key housing projects due to regulatory hurdles.

The Waterloo and Queen Street site in Romford was one of the 12 Estate redevelopment projects announced by the council as part of its £1.2billion joint venture with Wates Residential in 2018.

In February this year, the council had approved £33m in additional funds for the Waterloo and Queen Street project  - planned to see 1,380 new homes built in place of 270 demolished council homes.

The scheme includes open green spaces and village gardens to increase biodiversity. 

It was announced in May 2021 that work to bulldoze two existing 12 storey residential tower blocks and 25 two, four and six-storey buildings on the site had begun. 

But construction activity on the site has now been put on hold while the council seeks clarity on upcoming changes in the safety legislation regarding tall buildings, a spokesperson has said.

Read More: Bidding opens for homes on new Rainham estate

According to the council, the current design for the project is safe and meets current building safety laws.

But new regulations can require two staircases in buildings taller than 30 metres, prompting the council to halt the construction for the time being.

The spokesperson said: “We have taken the decision to pause the development at this early point in the construction process until we have a better understanding of what the new regulations will mean.”

The council and Wates Residential, they added, are committed to delivering the new homes as part of their partnership.

The spokesperson also assured that the residents who have a right to return to development, neighbours and businesses will be informed of any further updates.

Out of the other sites on the 12 Estates project, six are being reviewed by the council due to a “sharp rise” in costs.

Since it was announced in 2018, the overall number of homes to be built across the 12 Estates has dropped to 3,200 from 3,900.