Councillor Sets The Record Straight On Romford Tower Blocks And The Local Plan.

Councillor Graham Williamson-Cabinet member for Development & Regeneration today writes in the Havering Daily to set the record straight on the building of tower blocks across Romford.

There’s been a lot of discussion recently about high-rise developments across Havering, particularly in Romford, and the impact on the borough’s character so I feel it’s important that residents understand the facts about how these decisions are made — and who is truly responsible.

Local Plan: Many people may not be aware, but every Local Authority is required to have a Local Plan. This document has to plan for statutory housing targets, for Havering these are set by the Mayor of London through the London Plan. Local Plans also outline what land can be developed and include policies about things like building heights and density.

The current Local Plan in Havering was created and approved under the previous Conservative administration in accordance with the London Plan. These policy documents identify Romford as an opportunity area for growth. This is the framework that developers are currently working within.

Since the Havering Residents Association took control of the council, we have been working hard to prepare an updated Local Plan. It’s a complex process involving the preparation of an extensive evidence base and requiring several stages of consultation. However, one of our key objectives is clear: to ensure new housing is of a high quality, and that the heights of future developments are in keeping and reflects the character of our borough.

Local Character: Under our leadership, we have recently published the first ever Character Study for the borough which will form part of the evidence base for the Local Plan. The Character Study provides a place based approach to managing development and will help ensure that proposals respond positively to the local context. 

Planning decisions must be made broadly in accordance with the current Conservative Local Plan, the National Planning Policy Framework, and the London Plan from the Greater London Authority which do put the delivery of housing numbers as a high priority. The delivery of a new Local Plan will however enable us to put in place policies that better reflect the objectives of the Havering Residents Association and deliver the right type of housing for our residents.

Conserving our heritage: We are also about to launch a public consultation on an updated Conservation Area Appraisal for Romford (as well as Rainham and Gidea Park). We are proposing to extend the conservation area boundary in Romford which demonstrates our commitment to protecting the historic core and valued heritage.

Following extensive consultation we have also delivered a Masterplan for Romford, which provides much needed guidance for those seeking to bring forward development proposals within the Romford area. The Masterplan includes a height strategy which seeks to ensure that existing heights are reflected in new developments. Buildings over 6 storeys are considered to be tall buildings and the Masterplan limits the areas in which taller buildings may be considered appropriate.

We’re committed to delivering a planning framework that protects our communities, and we’re listening to what residents want. But it’s important to be clear: the high-rise blocks approved in recent times are a direct result of the policies set before we took office.

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