More Homes, Less Space: Has Havering Reached Breaking Point?”

Is Havering Becoming a Concrete Jungle? The Rising Pressure of Housing Targets vs. Community Values
As Havering’s housing targets increase year after year, residents and planners alike face impossible choices—between meeting government demands or protecting the borough’s character. But at what cost?

Across Havering, the pressure is mounting. With government and City Hall setting ever-increasing housing targets, the local authority is stuck between a rock and a hard place: build more or face the consequences. Havering’s annual housing target has now risen to 1,821 new homes per year, up from 1,170 just a few years ago under the London Plan. And with local population growth expected to continue, the demand is not slowing down.

But how long can we sustain this?

Just how many properties can we keep building across our borough until not only do we run out of space—but run out of the vital supportive infrastructure?

“It’s a constant battle. “If we don’t meet the targets, we face government penalties. If we approve too many developments, residents accuse us of ruining the borough.”

Housing targets set by the Government and the London Mayor must be adhered to—or councils are fined or overruled. What frequently happens is that residents oppose impending new developments for many important and correct reasons. The council’s planning team then has to make a very difficult assessment. How do they balance the huge pressure of meeting targets alongside the rightful will of the people?

If councillors side with their constituents and refuse proposals, the community often breathes a sigh of relief—until the Planning Inspectorate steps in. With no direct interest in our borough or its future, they have the power to overturn local decisions and force through developments. The result? Havering Council faces not only legal costs but the loss of control over its own planning process.

“Havering is, as its residents rightly believe, a borough full of green spaces,” said a local resident. “But if we’re not careful, that could vanish within a generation.”

The borough is proud of its suburban character, parks, and community feel. Yet housing targets expand each year, and the question for residents becomes: just how many homes can be packed into one area?

There’s no denying the demand for housing. Havering, like many boroughs, faces a housing crisis. Families are stuck in unsuitable accommodation. The council is spending millions on temporary housing, including hotel stays, simply to meet its statutory duty to prevent homelessness.

So where do we draw the line?

Now, we face the possible building across greenbelt land. Residents fear that every small open space that becomes available will see homes squeezed in, regardless of environmental or community impact. From car parks to playing fields to scraps of unused land, it’s becoming a case of “mind the gap”—because a block of flats might soon be filling it.

Havering’s challenges are far from unique, but the pace and pressure of development feel relentless. Local planning teams are overwhelmed. Community groups feel ignored. And the borough’s green spaces? Under threat like never before.

Ultimately, the question becomes one of balance: how do we ensure people have the homes they desperately need without sacrificing the character and liveability of our communities?

Until real reform comes from the top—giving councils both the power and the resources to build smartly, sustainably, and locally—it seems Havering will continue to be caught in the crossfire.

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