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Row erupts over Westferry Printworks affordable housing review
The Greater London Authority (GLA) and Tower Hamlets Council have restated their opposition to the notorious Westferry Printworks development, arguing that a review of affordable housing numbers is needed during the project.
Despite agreeing the initial amount of affordable housing to be included on the controversial Westferry Printworks development, the GLA, Tower Hamlets Council and developers remain at odds over whether the scheme should be approved.
Closing statements to a second public inquiry on the development show that the GLA and Tower Hamlets Council support a “mid-stage review” of affordable housing numbers while developers have rejected the idea.
A public inquiry on the scheme was re-run last month after housing secretary Robert Jenrick accepted that his approval of the proposals showed “apparent bias” as he expedited the decision so that it would not be liable for the council’s new Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).
Subsequent revelations showed that Mr Jenrick had discussed the project with developer Richard Desmond at a fundraiser and had pushed civil servants to approve the scheme. After receiving approval, Mr Desmond donated £12,000 to the Conservative Party.
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Tower Hamlets Council and the GLA have argued that a mid-stage review is required to assess the minimum amount of affordable housing – currently at 21% – that can be provided on the scheme as this is likely to change over time.
In its submission to the inquiry, Tower Hamlets Council said: “While 21% affordable housing is accepted by all main parties to be the maximum viable with the scheme as designed, at this point in time there is a very substantial, long-standing need for more affordable housing in the borough and in Greater London generally.
“The expected duration of the construction period is 10 years. On any view, this is a substantial period and it is extremely unlikely that the position in relation to viability will remain static throughout that period.”
The council said that potential changes to viability, driven by rising house prices for example, represent a “clear basis” for a mid-stage review and urged the government to reject the plan.
Similarly, the GLA said that a mid-stage review is “essential in order to ensure that there is delivery of on-site affordable housing if viability improves over time”.
The authority said that failure to include a review would be in conflict with policy H5 in the London Plan.
“The secretary of state is invited to draw the conclusion that overall, the case for refusing planning permission has strengthened considerably,” the GLA concluded.
The three organisations previously agreed the portion of affordable housing to be included on the 1,524-home scheme after the developers said they were “ready, willing and able” to meet the council’s £43m CIL charge.
In defence, Westferry Developments Limited argued that the point of the new inquiry was to consider what has changed since Mr Jenrick’s approval was quashed in May last year.
“It is therefore somewhat ironic that, five days later, the argument which has occupied the greatest amount of time (mid-stage review) is not new,” the developer’s statement said.
It continued: “The absence of mid-stage review is only raised now because we have addressed all LBTH’s [Tower Hamlets Council] other objections to the unilateral undertaking. In the appellant’s submission, that is telling: the fact that the complaint is now one of the ‘last men standing’ is not something which can increase its importance.”
When contacted by Inside Housing, the GLA said its position remains the same and that it opposes the plan as it does not comply with the London Plan and the benefits do not outweigh the impact on local heritage sites.
Westferry Developments has been approached for a response.
