Havering Council Says NO to Government Plans That Could Give London Mayor More Control Over Local Planning Decisions.

Havering Council has formally objected to the Government’s proposed London Emergency Housing Package, warning the plans could remove millions of pounds in local funding and reduce the borough’s control over planning decisions.

In a statement, the London Borough of Havering said the proposals, introduced by the government, would require local authorities to grant temporary Community Infrastructure Levy relief to housing developments in certain circumstances while allowing the Greater London Authority to take greater control of planning decisions for larger schemes.

The council said the measures could significantly weaken its ability to fund essential infrastructure and would centralise decision making away from local communities.

Under the proposals, local authorities would be required to grant temporary relief from the Community Infrastructure Levy, a charge paid by developers to help fund infrastructure such as schools, health facilities, transport improvements and community amenities. Havering warned that removing or reducing this income stream would come at a time when councils are already under pressure to deliver more housing and manage growing demand on services.

Since the Local CIL was introduced in 2010, Havering has collected around £9.6 million from developers to support infrastructure across the borough. The council said reducing this funding for up to two years would leave no alternative source of income, placing further pressure on already stretched services and potentially undermining public confidence in the planning system.

The authority also raised concerns about proposals to expand mayoral powers over planning decisions. The Government’s package would allow the Mayor of London to take control of certain planning applications, including developments of more than 50 homes. Havering said this represents an unjustified centralisation of authority that could make decisions less accountable to local residents and reduce the influence of boroughs over developments within their own communities.

The council argues that planning decisions made at a regional level may not reflect local needs, infrastructure capacity or community priorities, particularly in outer London boroughs where development pressures and environmental concerns differ from those in central areas.

Havering also challenged the assumption that developer contributions are slowing housebuilding. The council said there is no clear evidence that the Community Infrastructure Levy acts as a barrier to development, arguing that wider economic conditions, construction costs and market uncertainty are more significant factors behind stalled projects. Removing CIL, it said, would not address these issues but would reduce the funding available to support the infrastructure required for new homes.

The Government’s wider London Emergency Housing Package is intended to accelerate housebuilding and address housing shortages across the capital by speeding up planning processes and encouraging development. However, critics argue the approach risks prioritising delivery targets over local accountability and infrastructure planning.

Havering warned that weakening local funding streams while increasing housing demand could lead to additional strain on schools, healthcare services and transport networks. The council also expressed concern that transferring more authority to City Hall could make the planning system more remote from residents and reduce opportunities for local scrutiny.

In its formal response to Government, Havering said both the proposed CIL relief and the expansion of mayoral planning powers were unacceptable. The authority said it would continue to oppose measures that could reduce infrastructure funding, weaken local decision making or place further pressure on borough services.

The debate highlights wider tensions between the need to increase housing supply across London and concerns from local authorities about funding, accountability and the long term impact on communities.

Stay up to date with all of our latest updates and content by following us on our social media accounts!

We have created community pages where we will share our up-to-date stories happening in the area. Add the area closest to where you live.