Planning permission granted for pilot modular home scheme

Planning permission has been granted for the 18 modular homes on the Waterloo and Queen Street Estate in Romford, marking a milestone for the pilot project aimed at transforming temporary housing across London.

The scheme is part of the wider regeneration joint venture between Havering Council and Wates Residential that will deliver up to 5,000 new homes across the borough. It also represents a bold step in London’s wider efforts to tackle spiralling housing costs and demand, particularly for vulnerable families living in unsuitable temporary accommodation like hotels and hostels.

There are currently 61,000 households in the capital living in temporary accommodation, costing London boroughs £114 million every month. These modular homes represent a practical, high-quality solution for councils in the short term. Built to the same standards as permanent housing, the homes will include modern amenities, private bedrooms, family bathrooms, and kitchen and living spaces, helping restore stability to those facing housing insecurity.

Havering’s modular homes will be installed in October, but are designed to be able to be moved to other sites in the borough once the final phase of the regeneration project is complete. This flexible approach ensures that the homes continue to deliver value where they are needed most.

Cllr Ray Morgon, Leader of Havering Council, said:
“We welcome this decision as a positive step forward in our work to provide better temporary housing for local families, and hope this will set a precedent for other councils.

“These modular homes will offer a significant improvement on current options like hostels and hotels, giving families a safer, more stable place to live at less cost to the taxpayer, while we continue delivering long-term regeneration across the borough.”

Paul Nicholls, Regional Managing Director for London, Wates Residential, said:

“This decision shows what’s possible when we take bold approaches to tackling the housing crisis. Councils across the country are spending £2.1bn annually on hotels and hostels that have a devastating impact on their wellbeing and development. Our temporary modular homes provide a real solution.
“These homes demonstrate that temporary accommodation can be high-quality, energy-efficient and designed around people’s needs, not just a stopgap, but a real place to live and thrive. We’re proud to be working with Havering Council to deliver a solution that is fast, flexible and focused on families.”

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