The town hall has been asked to make a number of changes to its Local Plan Part 2, which will guide the development of 27,000 new homes until 2035, reports Sebastian Mann, Local Democracy Reporter

Waltham Forest Council will need to make changes to its plan for new housing after several sites were deemed unsuitable.

The draft Local Plan Part 2, which will guide the development of 27,000 new homes in the borough until 2035, was branded ‘unsound’ by the government’s planning inspectorate this week.

The plan itself does not include proposals for new housing and is instead meant as a reference for prospective developers.

Pockets of land across the borough have been identified by the council as suitable for either homes or industry and the plan would include a recommended number of units for each.

After a string of hearings in July, inspector David Troy told the council it would need to ‘delete’ eleven sites earmarked for housing and seven commercial sites that are not considered developable.

One of the biggest blows to the scheme is the inspector’s judgement that the site of the former Matalan in Leytonstone is not suitable for tall buildings and the proposed 190 flats cannot go ahead.

Most unsuitable proposals are relatively small, sitting between five and 55 homes.

Councillor Ahsan Khan, the cabinet member for housing and regeneration, said it was a “common occurrence” for the inspectorate to request changes and was generally “anticipated by councils”.

He said they were now regarded as “opportunity sites” and may still be used in the future.

The largest change is the 130 homes planned for the Territorial Army Centre, by Whipps Cross Hospital.

Proposals for 20 homes at Cedar Wood House and 15 on the site of the KFC restaurant in Lea Bridge Road are also among those that need to be scrapped.

Elsewhere, unsuitable locations will be developed into different projects.

The Temple Mills site, in Leytonstone, will no longer see 700 new homes but will instead be safeguarded for the development of the proposed Ruckholt Road Station.

Despite more than ten sites being deleted from the plan, the inspector said the council was on track to see 30,300 new homes built by 2035.

Cllr Khan added: “Even without the inclusion of these sites, the inspector agrees the council can meet its housing and employment floorspace requirements and is clear that the plan can be made sound through the suggested modifications.”

Proposed industrial sites in Sutherland Road – which forms part of the Blackhorse Lane ‘strategic location’ – as well as plans for up to 8,700sqm of floorspace in the Sidings and up to 90,000sqm in the North Circular industrial zone.

The council is still on track to exceed the required 52,000sqm of new floorspace by 2035, the inspector said.

While the allocations were branded suitable overall, the inspector has requested the council make several changes to its guidance for sites in the Leyton Mills retail park, which has been earmarked for 700 homes and a new bus depot, and the Montague Road estate, earmarked for a net increase of 181 houses.

In Leyton Mills, developers will need to enhance the pedestrian and cycle paths to Leyton station, safeguard land in the Lee Valley Regional Park, and “preserve or enhance the significance, setting and key views” of surrounding heritage assets including the Leyton town centre conservation area, the library, town hall, and St Patrick’s Cemetery.

Developers working on the Montague Road estate will similarly need to ensure any surrounding heritage assets, including those in the neighbouring borough of Redbridge, are “preserved or enhanced”.

The town hall has launched a fresh public consultation that will run until Saturday, 13th October, where residents can share their views on the proposed changes.

Cllr Khan added: “The inspector will consider any representations that are received before finalising their report.

“This will conclude the process and is expected to provide the formal recommendation that our Local Plan can be adopted as we continue to make sure Waltham Forest is a great place to live.”

Waltham Forest residents can submit their views on the consultation by Monday 13th October to [email protected] or by mail to Place and Design Team, London Borough of Waltham Forest, Waltham Forest Town Hall, Forest Road, Walthamstow, E17 4JF

Find out more about the Local Plan 2 consultation on modifications here

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