The Strategic Development Committee of Tower Hamlets Council met on Thursday 10 September 2026, refusing one planning application and granting another. The committee also noted changes to planning committee procedures.

Refusal of Student Accommodation on Cambridge Heath Road

The committee refused planning permission for the demolition of existing buildings at 255-279 Cambridge Heath Road, London, E2 0EL, and the redevelopment of the site for purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA). This decision overturned the officers' recommendation to grant permission.

The reasons for refusal, as detailed in the supplemental report¹, included:

• Failure to Optimise the Site for Housing Delivery: Members felt the site, being a large, accessible brownfield location, should have been used for conventional housing, including affordable and family homes, rather than student accommodation. They believed this would have better addressed the borough's acute housing needs.
• Over-Concentration of Purpose-Built Student Accommodation: The committee expressed concern that the addition of 520 student bedspaces would exacerbate an existing concentration of student accommodation in the Bethnal Green area. This was seen as potentially harming the social sustainability, character, and function of the area, undermining the creation of mixed and inclusive neighbourhoods.
• Failure to Secure Planning Obligations: A concern was raised regarding the absence of a satisfactory legal agreement to secure necessary planning obligations, including affordable student accommodation, nominations agreements with higher education institutions, and carbon offset contributions.

Officers had recommended granting permission, arguing that the scheme complied with relevant policies regarding student accommodation and that the identified public benefits, such as affordable student housing and community floorspace, outweighed any potential harm. However, the committee members felt that the site could be better utilised for conventional housing and were concerned about the cumulative impact of student accommodation in the area.

Approval of Shared Living and Affordable Housing on Wansbeck Road

The committee granted planning permission for the redevelopment of land at Wansbeck Road, Fish Island, London, E3 2NF. The proposal includes purpose-built shared living accommodation (co-living) and affordable housing units, along with public realm improvements.

The development will consist of two buildings: a seven-storey block providing 44 social rent homes and a ten-storey co-living block with 280 units. The scheme will deliver 40% affordable housing by habitable room, with all affordable homes provided at social rent levels. Notably, 22 of these homes will be family-sized. The co-living units will also contribute towards the council's housing targets, equating to 156 traditional residential units.

While acknowledging that the proposed building heights exceed the prevailing height in the area, officers considered the design acceptable within the evolving townscape of Fish Island, particularly given the prominent corner location. Concerns raised by objectors regarding daylight and sunlight impacts on neighbouring properties were considered by the committee, but officers concluded that the scheme's benefits, particularly the provision of 44 social rent homes, outweighed these impacts. The committee voted seven in favour, one against, and one abstention to grant permission.

Reform of Planning Committees and National Scheme of Delegation

The committee noted the introduction of the National Scheme of Delegation (NSD) for planning functions, which will come into effect on 31 October 2026. Paul Buckenham, Head of Development Management, explained that the NSD aims to provide greater consistency across planning authorities, ensuring that committees focus on applications of strategic importance while routine decisions are delegated to officers.

Key changes include a two-tier system for application types: Schedule 1 applications must always be delegated to officers, while Schedule 2 applications may be referred to a planning committee if a nominated officer and nominated member agree that the proposal raises issues of economic, social, or environmental significance and significant planning matters. This will mean that local practices such as referring applications based solely on the number of objections received will no longer be permissible.

The committee also noted proposed changes to their terms of reference to better balance agendas and reflect the strategic importance of applications, moving away from fixed height thresholds. The nominated officers will be the Director of Planning and Building Control and other senior planning officers, while the nominated members will be the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Development and Strategic Development Committees.