A blueprint for at least 49,630 new homes in Greenwich, half of them affordable, is heading to a planning inspector after councillors agreed to submit it for examination in public.
Greenwich Council has agreed to submit its Publication Draft Local Plan to the Secretary of State, marking a significant step towards shaping the borough’s future development. The plan sets out the vision for the borough’s growth up to 2040, committing to at least 49,630 new homes over 15 years and aiming to deliver at least 24,000 new jobs.
Of the new homes, half are to be affordable, with 60% of those at social rent. The plan aims to provide certainty for investors and lead development to ensure these homes are built. It also sets stringent climate standards for new buildings, aiming for net-zero operation and limiting embodied carbon in construction materials, and new buildings will have no gas boilers.
The plan has undergone extensive public consultation, with the latest stage receiving 891 responses from 835 different respondents. These representations will be provided to a Planning Inspector, who will examine the plan for soundness and legal compliance against tests set out in legislation and national planning policy.
The plan covers eight key themes: Places, Housing, Employment, Town Centres, Design and Heritage, Environment, Climate Emergency, and Transport. Development is expected to contribute to infrastructure such as schools and health centres. It also includes 54 site allocations for specific land uses.
During the council meeting on 11 November 2026, councillors debated the plan, with many expressing thanks to the officers for their work. Concerns were raised by some, including the Green Group, regarding the robustness of affordable housing targets and the potential weakening of over-concentration rules for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). A Green Party councillor felt the HMO rules could be strengthened, noting a 'weakening of over-concentration rules'. However, the overall sentiment supported progressing the plan to the examination stage.
Councillor Tom Creswell, Cabinet Member for Planning and Development, highlighted the plan's ambition to provide homes residents can afford, jobs they can reach, green spaces they can enjoy, and a borough prepared for a changing climate. He emphasised that the plan is ambitious, deliverable, and right for Greenwich.
The submission to the Secretary of State is a crucial step before the plan can be adopted, ensuring it aligns with national planning policy and legal requirements. The examination process is expected to take place around the middle to latter part of the following year. A Programme Officer will be appointed to manage the examination process. Residents who wish to be heard will be contacted by the Programme Officer. The examination will include written and oral stages, with hearing sessions, allowing residents to voice concerns or make representations.
