The Strategic Development Committee of Tower Hamlets Council met on Wednesday, 1 April 2026, to discuss two major planning applications. The committee granted planning permission for a large mixed-use development at 49-59 Mill Harbour, 2-4 Muirfield Crescent, and 23-29 Pepper Street, which will include student accommodation and social rented homes. However, the committee refused a Section 73 application for the former Westferry Printworks site at 235 Westferry Road, London, primarily due to a significant proposed reduction in affordable housing provision and concerns about heritage impacts.

49-59 Mill Harbour, 2-4 Muirfield Crescent, and 23-29 Pepper Street, London E14

The committee granted planning permission for the redevelopment of this site, which includes the demolition of existing buildings to provide student accommodation, social rented homes, and flexible community and commercial uses. The development will consist of three tall buildings, with Blocks A and C designated for purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) and Block B for 100% social rented homes. A key aspect of the approval is the provision of 918 student bed spaces, with 321 designated as affordable student rooms, meeting the 35% affordable housing requirement for PBSA. Additionally, 59 social rented homes will be delivered, representing 100% affordable housing for the traditional residential element. The scheme also includes 252 square metres of flexible community and affordable workspace.

Concerns were raised by objectors, including Councillor Mayim Talukdar, the Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Lifelong Learning, and local resident Andrew Wood, regarding the potential for increased anti-social behaviour, the impact on local amenities, and the balance of housing provision, with a focus on the need for more family-sized social housing. Councillor Talukdar expressed concern about the high proportion of student accommodation, while Andrew Wood highlighted issues with child play space provision and the potential for the site to remain vacant between permission and demolition.

Supporters, including Tom Silsby, representing the applicant, and James Greenwood, Head of Residential Life at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), emphasised the scheme's deliverability, the significant provision of social rented homes, and the partnership with LSE to provide much-needed student accommodation. James Greenwood highlighted LSE's significant shortfall in student housing and how this development would help alleviate pressure on the private rental market.

The committee debated the balance between student accommodation and the need for traditional housing, the impact on local infrastructure, and the provision of affordable housing. Councillor Gulam Kibria Choudhury, Chair of the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee, expressed support for the social housing aspect but voiced concerns about the scale of student accommodation and its potential impact on community balance. Councillor Agrabah Hussain, from Lensbury Ward, was unable to support the application due to concerns about neighbouring amenity, noise, and pressure on local infrastructure. Councillor Saied Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Resources and the Cost of Living, supported the application, highlighting the unique provision of social rented homes and the contribution to the community. Councillor Kabir Hussain also supported the application, noting the improvements in social housing provision compared to the extant consent. Councillor Lillou Ahmed, from Lensbury Ward, supported the application, acknowledging the applicant's commitment to 24-hour service to minimise impact and the release of family homes from the private rental market. Councillor Jahed Choudhury supported the application, citing the provision of social homes and the need to accommodate students. Councillor Amin Rahman, Chair of the Strategic Development Committee, ultimately could not support the application due to the significant reduction in housing delivery, impact on neighbouring amenity, and lack of balance in the housing offering.

Ultimately, the committee voted five in favour and four against granting planning permission for the redevelopment of the site at 49-59 Mill Harbour, 2-4 Muirfield Crescent, and 23-29 Pepper Street. An additional planning condition was agreed, stipulating that no demolition should take place until a contract has been let for the development of the site.

Former Westferry Printworks, 235 Westferry Road, London

The committee unanimously refused the Section 73 application for the former Westferry Printworks site. The application sought to vary the extant planning permission to reduce the affordable housing provision from 35% to 10% by habitable room, a reduction from 379 to 100 affordable homes. The officer's recommendation for refusal was based on the significant reduction in affordable housing and the resulting harm to heritage assets, which was not outweighed by the public benefits.

Paul Buckenham, Head of Development Management, Planning and Building Control, presented the report, highlighting that the applicant's viability assessment was not considered robust by the Council's viability team or the Greater London Authority (GLA) Viability Team. Katie Cook, Planning Case Officer, detailed the proposed changes, noting that while fire safety modifications were minor, the reduction in affordable housing was substantial. She explained that the heritage impacts, which were previously outweighed by the 35% affordable housing offer, would now not be sufficiently offset by the reduced public benefit.

Councillor Mayim Talukdar, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Lifelong Learning, strongly urged the committee to reject the application, echoing the officers' concerns about the unacceptable reduction in affordable housing. Andrew Wood, a local resident, provided evidence that 16% affordable housing was viable in the area, citing the Ballymore scheme on Cuba Street, and also raised concerns about the lack of clarity regarding the school site.

Members of the committee unanimously agreed with the officer's recommendation for refusal. Councillor Iqbal Hossain, Chair of Development Committee, supported the refusal on the grounds of reduced affordable housing and heritage impacts. Councillor Gulam Kibria Choudhury, Chair of the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee, also supported the refusal, citing the reduction in affordable housing and heritage impacts. Councillor Shahaveer Shubo Hussain supported the refusal, agreeing with the officers' reasons regarding heritage and the reduction in affordable housing. Councillor Kabir Hussain, Councillor Leelu Ahmed, Councillor Saied Ahmed, Councillor Jahed Choudhury, and Councillor Mohammad Chowdhury also supported the officer's recommendation for refusal.

Paul Buckenham and Ian Austin, Principal Lawyers, Planning Legal Service Governance, provided final advice, clarifying that the Section 73 application focused solely on the variation of conditions and that the significant difference in viability assessments between the applicant and the Council/GLA made closing the gap unlikely. They also noted that the heritage harms were present in the extant consent, but the public benefits had changed due to the reduction in affordable housing.

The committee voted unanimously in favour of the officer's recommendation to refuse the Section 73 variation. The reasons for refusal were primarily centred on the inadequate provision of affordable housing and the resulting heritage impacts.

Other Matters

The committee also confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting held on 3rd March 2026 and noted that there were no deferred items. The meeting concluded with the confirmation of the next meeting date.