Walthamstow Stadium plans approved with reduced affordable housing

The 294 home residential development has been criticised for not including any homes for social rent and making only 20% of the homes available for affordable rent, far less than the Council's recommended 50%.

"After a marathon planning meeting at the town hall last night, L&Q’s planning application for 294 homes at Walthamstow Stadium was narrowly approved by a vote of 4-3 in favour," said local residents against the proposals.

The level of housing has been reduced since the plans were first proposed, and the amended plans include  now include proposals for 234 homes for private sale, 36 for shared ownership and 24 four-bedroom homes let under the Government’s affordable rent programme.

"London and Quadrant’s plans were judged solely on their planning merits as a development proposal and in line with the appropriate legislation. Factors taken into account included design, appearance, compliance with relevant standards and impact on local residents," said Waltham Forest Council.

The planning application will now be referred to the Mayor of London for approval, because the development is over 150 units, under the Town and Country Planning Act.

The viability assessment (9-pages / 66 KB PDF) produced for L&Q said that the "scheme is providing a higher level of planning obligations than can be justified by the scheme’s current viability." The proposed level of affordable housing and section 106 contributions mean there will be a shortfall of on target profitability of 7.55%.

L&Q has said that it will consider a "re-appraisal" of the scheme on a phase by phase basis "such that if target profitability is achieved, a proportion of any sum over this level will be allocated towards the delivery of additional affordable housing".

In the report to committee, the recommendation by officers to approve the planning application is subject to a section 106 agreement, under which London and Quadrant has agreed to pay £3.8 million in planning obligations.

The council report accepts the section 106 contribution offered by L&Q is the "maximum that can be reasonably achieved having regard to other development considerations and costs".