Newham Council has debated the balance between developer contributions and affordable housing targets, addressing concerns over a new government package and its potential impact on local housing and infrastructure funding.

The council is concerned that a 50 per cent reduction in Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) income, as proposed in the government's Support for Housebuilding in London package, would significantly reduce the funding available for community infrastructure projects.

At a meeting on Monday 10 November 2025, councillors discussed a motion concerning housebuilding in London, focusing on the government and Mayor of London's Support for Housebuilding in London package. This package temporarily halves borough Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) rates and allows developments with as little as 20% affordable housing.

Councillor Areeq Chowdhury and Councillor Nate Higgins proposed a motion outlining several key points. The motion stated that Newham Council should oppose any reduction of borough-level CIL and reaffirm its target that at least 50 per cent of homes in major developments be for council rent, alongside robust design and sustainability standards. The motion also called on the government and the Mayor of London to legislate to end Right to Buy, establish a national buy-back fund, consider a Land Value Tax, review the borrowing rates to local authorities, introduce a Land Value Tax on all land holdings, implement a Wealth Tax on the highest net-worth individuals, restrict speculative buy-to-let and short-term letting, enable rent controls and fair rents, and lift borrowing caps.

A Labour Party amendment to the motion proposed a review of the allocation of borough-level CIL in Newham, recognising that it diverts millions of pounds away from vital community infrastructure into developer profits. The amended motion also reaffirmed Newham's 50 per cent affordable housing target, while recognising the impact of the current housebuilding crisis and the need to urgently deliver homes.

Borough-level CIL in Newham has previously funded:

  • £500,000 for a new Stratford Station entrance;
  • £5.3 million for the Royal Docks Corridor Highway Improvement;
  • £1.7 million for parks and open-space maintenance;
  • over £1 million for community facilities and civic spaces.

Councillor Danny Keeling asked Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE how many genuinely affordable homes, at social rent, have actually been delivered in the past four years. The response stated that since 2021, 1662 'low cost' homes have been delivered in the borough. This definition includes all homes delivered and rented at below market rent. The council has set a target to ensure that of the around 5,000 new and replacements homes delivered on these schemes at least 50% will be genuinely affordable at social rent levels.

The council also addressed the importance of renters' rights, with Councillor Amar Virdee responding to a question from Councillor Nate Higgins about lobbying for rent controls. The response highlighted Newham's leadership in developing property licensing since 2013 and support for amendments to the Renters' Rights Bill. The amendments sought to strengthen local authorities' ability to operate licensing schemes and to extend their duration critical steps to enable long-term, large-scale improvements in housing standards. In May 2025, Councillor Amar Virdee wrote to Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, the Lords Minister for Housing and Local Government, expressing Newham's strong support for proposed amendments to the Renters' Rights Bill.

The Supplementary Agenda 1 includes the Labour Party amendment to the Green Group motion.