A Haringey Council committee has recommended that a plan to build approximately 21,500 homes be approved for public consultation.

The committee met on Monday, 2 November 2026, to discuss the Proposed Submission Haringey Local Plan, a key document guiding future development and land use. The plan aims to distribute housing more evenly across the borough, addressing the needs of residents currently in unsuitable accommodation. This is a change from the 2017 Local Plan, with the emerging plan having undertaken a more extensive assessment of potential development opportunities across both the east and west of the borough.

While the plan outlines a strategy for growth, members raised concerns about the borough's capacity to accommodate such a significant increase in housing, which represents around 15% of the current housing stock. Officers acknowledged that the target is substantial and that further work will be needed to assess infrastructure capacity and the borough's ability to sustain the delivery rate of 1,000 to 2,000 homes per year.

Concerns were also raised regarding the potential environmental impacts of building 21,500 new homes. These included issues surrounding sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), flood risk, and the impact of development on existing biodiversity, particularly at Arena Retail Park and Coronation Sidings. Officers advised that the proposed allocation for Arena Retail Park was expected to improve existing conditions through permeable surfaces and greenery, and that flood risk and SuDS were fundamental considerations. For Coronation Sidings, it was acknowledged that its redevelopment would present challenges in balancing development with the protection of existing habitats, and that the site would be expected to deliver an overall biodiversity uplift. Additionally, the plan addresses water consumption through Policy CR6, requiring water-efficient design, and a proposed data centre policy aims to limit water consumption by preventing data centres from locating in Haringey.

The committee resolved to make informal recommendations to the Cabinet and Full Council. These include approving the Proposed Submission Haringey Local Plan for a minimum six-week public consultation period. They also recommended that following this consultation, officers be authorised to proceed under Regulation 22 to submit the plan for independent examination. The final adoption of the Local Plan will be decided by Full Council after the examination process.

  • Housing Targets and Capacity: The committee queried the borough's capacity to meet the target of approximately 21,500 homes, with officers admitting this represented a significant increase and that infrastructure capacity needed to be assessed.

Agenda frontsheet 02nd-Nov-2026 19.00 Strategic Planning Committee Printed minutes 02nd-Nov-2026 19.00 Strategic Planning Committee