Tower Hamlets Council's Cabinet has approved plans for the redevelopment of the St George's Leisure Centre site, paving the way for the construction of 30 new affordable housing units and a modern leisure facility. The decision, made at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, authorises the Corporate Director of Housing & Regeneration to appropriate the land for planning purposes. This move is a crucial step in facilitating the development, which includes a nine-storey residential block and a five-storey leisure building.
The new residential block will provide 30 affordable housing units, contributing to the council's efforts to address the significant housing needs within the borough. The leisure centre will feature a swimming pool, gym, community hall, and café, replacing the previous facility which closed in 2020. The redevelopment is expected to provide significant social, economic, and environmental benefits to the community.
Social benefits include the 30 new affordable homes, which will benefit those on the re-housing waiting list, and an improved leisure centre offering a swimming pool, gym, community hall, and café. The development will also enhance local play and recreation facilities.
Economic benefits are anticipated through job creation and local investment as part of the Mayor's Accelerated Housing Programme, which aims to deliver new homes and training opportunities. The St George's redevelopment will also bring underutilised land into productive use.
Environmental benefits will be realised through the construction of new homes built to higher environmental performance standards. These will incorporate energy efficiency measures such as heat pumps and solar panels, aiming to reduce carbon emissions and lower running costs for residents. The development will also feature landscaped amenity areas, improving the local environment.
To enable the development, the council will utilise powers under Section 203 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 to override existing rights of light for neighbouring properties that may be affected by the construction. This measure is deemed necessary to prevent potential injunctions and delays to the project. The council has identified potentially 16 neighbouring properties whose rights of light may be affected, based on an initial assessment. Negotiations with these affected parties are part of the process.
Compensation will be paid to any affected parties for the infringement of their rights. This will be statutory compensation calculated on the same basis as compensation payable under sections 7 and 10 of the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965, which is the diminution in the value of the affected interest. Any disputes regarding compensation can be referred to the Upper Tribunal for determination. The estimated cost for the settlement of these rights of light claims for the St George's Leisure Centre redevelopment is approximately £336,000, which will be borne by the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).
The total scheme cost for the 10 MAHP sites, including the St George's redevelopment and the Bethnal Green Idea Store and One Stop Shop, is estimated at £143,235,790. This information is detailed in the Public reports pack for the July 15, 2026 Cabinet meeting.
