Tower Hamlets Council Launches Legal Challenge Against Mayor of London's Reduced Affordable Housing Targets

16 July 2026

Tower Hamlets Council has launched a legal challenge against the Mayor of London's decision to reduce affordable housing targets.

The council is pursuing a judicial review against the Mayor's plan to lower the affordable housing requirement from 35% to 20%.

This challenge was announced at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, where Chief Executive Steve Halsey provided an update on the council's legal action.

Councils Involved

Tower Hamlets

Meetings Involved

the Cabinet of Tower Hamlets Council on 15 July 2026

People Involved

Mayor Lutfur Rahman (Executive Mayor) Aspire

Councillor Maium Talukdar Cabinet Member for Tackling Inequality and the Cost of Living, Improving Customer Services and Voluntary Sector Engagement (Statutory Deputy Mayor) Aspire Canary Wharf

Councillor Kabir Ahmed Cabinet Member for Safe Communities and Community Cohesion Aspire Weavers

Councillor Saied Ahmed Cabinet Member for Homebuilding and Enhancing Council Homes and Neighbourhoods Aspire Canary Wharf

Councillor Shafi Ahmed Cabinet Member for a Clean and Green Borough Aspire Whitechapel

Councillor Sabina Akhtar Cabinet Member for Healthy, Caring and Inclusive Communities Aspire Stepney Green

Councillor Abu Talha Chowdhury Cabinet Member for Finance, Assets and Governance Aspire Bethnal Green West

Councillor Mohammed Ilyas Aspire Bromley North

Councillor Mohammed Omar Mehdi Aspire Mile End

Councillor Rougie Khanom Aspire Mile End

Councillor Syed Tareq Abdullah Aspire Bethnal Green East

Councillor Foysal Ahmed Aspire Lansbury

Councillor Abdul Mannan Aspire Bromley North

Councillor Halima Islam Aspire Bethnal Green East

Councillor Minara Khatun Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism Aspire Blackwall & Cubitt Town

Councillor Faysal Ahmed Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Life Chances Aspire Spitalfields & Banglatown

Councillor Shenaly Miah Cabinet Member for Jobs, Enterprise, Skills and Growth Aspire St Dunstan's

Topics

Tower Hamlets Council Affordable Housing judicial review against the Mayor's plan to lower the affordable housing requirement Steve Halsey Mayor of London's decision to reduce affordable housing targets