Havering residents concerns over Labour’s plan to increase housing.

For many years now, Havering residents have openly voiced their concerns on the ‘overdevelopment’ of the borough. The increase in flat building has raised concerns about the lack of infrastructure to support the number of flats going up. Councillors frequently reject housing applications when deemed appropriate, but then get them overturned and not only pay for the overturning fee, but also have the flats going up as well. A no win situation. Councils are also penalised for failing to meet the housing targets set by the previous government and the Mayor of London.

Now, with a new Labour government, Havering residents have taken to social media to voice their concerns about the increase in new builds across the borough, including on greenbelt land.

Labour have pledged to build 1.5 million homes in the next five years. They announced that this target will be met by building on what they are calling ‘grey belt’. The new chancellor Rachel Reeves, said it was planning an ‘overhaul’ of the planning rules that will see councils now to be expected to build on brownfield sites and what they are calling poor quality ‘greenbelt sites’, ie grey belt land.

The new term ‘grey belt’ introduced yesterday, has left many asking what that is? This is what Labour are calling ‘poor quality’ or ‘ugly areas’. These have been highlighted now under this new government to build new homes, half of which will be affordable housing they say.

But are Havering residents happy with this decision?

Those who took to social media yesterday, after the housing announcement, voiced not only unhappiness, but real concerns for Havering and what will come next.

One resident wrote; “There will be no greenbelt left anywhere soon.”

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