The Cabinet of Waltham Forest Council met on Tuesday 14 April 2026 to discuss the council's Annual Procurement Plan for 2026/27, a Housing and Inclusive Growth Delivery Plan, and the acquisition of new build homes at Fellowship Square. The meeting also included a discussion on the acquisition of new build homes at Fellowship Square, specifically Blocks H & J.

Annual Procurement Plan 2026/27

The Cabinet was scheduled to consider the council's Annual Procurement Plan for 2026/27. This plan details proposed procurement projects for the upcoming year with a financial value exceeding £172,000 for supplies and services, or £1,000,000 for works contracts. The plan is intended to provide transparency to potential suppliers and support the Council's legal requirements under the Procurement Act 2023. The report highlighted that all listed items, or those meeting the criteria if not listed, would be subject to the Council's Contract Procedure Rules and executive decision-making processes. The plan also aims to support the Council's strategic priorities, with individual procurements focusing on specific objectives, all underpinned by the corporate priority of achieving excellence and value for money. The report indicated that all procurement projects would be scrutinised by the Strategic Commissioning Board to ensure they meet the Council's objectives regarding value for money, sustainability, and legal compliance.

Housing and Inclusive Growth Delivery Plan

A key item on the agenda was the Housing and Inclusive Growth Delivery Plan. This plan outlines the council's approach to delivering new homes and jobs across the borough, aiming for the highest standards of design. The council's Local Plan, adopted in 2024, targets the delivery of 27,000 new homes between 2020 and 2035. The report detailed how new housing is delivered through council-led projects, development agreements, and by private developers and registered providers. The council intends to enter into a strategic partnership with the Greater London Authority (GLA) under its London Social and Affordable Homes Programme (LSAHP) 2026–36 to maximise the delivery of affordable homes. The report also provided an update on individual council projects and those delivered through strategic partnerships, including progress on sites such as Avenue Road, Lea Bridge Station Sites, Fellowship Square, and Patchworks. Additionally, the report noted the council's success in securing £18.2 million in grant funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF) to acquire 77 homes for temporary accommodation and refugee resettlement.

Acquisition of New Build Homes at Fellowship Square - Blocks H & J

The Cabinet was scheduled to discuss the proposed acquisition of up to 81 new build homes at Hepworth Place, within the Fellowship Square (FSQ) neighbourhood, from the development partner Countryside Partnerships. These homes are intended to be let at social rent and funded through a combination of the Council's Right to Buy (RTB) receipts, borrowing, and GLA grant. The report highlighted that the flexibility of these funding sources presented a unique opportunity to increase the council's portfolio of affordable homes. The acquisition would convert these homes from private to social rent tenure, increasing the overall affordable housing provision at Fellowship Square from 50% to 67%. The report also detailed a revised unit mix to provide a higher number of two and three-bedroom homes to better meet the council's housing needs for families. The acquisition was presented as a means to maximise the benefit of available RTB funds, protect and expedite the delivery of affordable housing, increase the supply of social rented housing, and contribute to a reduction in expenditure on temporary accommodation.

Acquisition of New Build Homes at Fellowship Square - Blocks H & J (Exempt Appendix)

There was an appendix related to the acquisition of new build homes at Fellowship Square – Blocks H & J which was exempt from public disclosure. This appendix was understood to contain information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person, including the authority, and its disclosure was deemed not to be in the public interest.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

The minutes of the previous Cabinet meeting held on 17 March 2026 were scheduled for approval. These minutes detailed decisions made regarding Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) mobilisation, the Capital Investment Strategy 2025/26–2035/36, a Section 75 Partnership Agreement for Health and Social Care (Better Care Fund), and Schools and Early Years Budgets 2026/27.