Tower Hamlets Council is facing scrutiny over its preparedness for the government's 2035 gas phase-out, with a key performance indicator for social housing readiness notably absent from recent council reports.

Councillor Rupert George raised concerns during a recent Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting regarding the lack of a specific measure to track the percentage of social housing ready for the 2035 gas phase-out date. He warned that without adequate planning, residents could face huge, huge fuel bills and that homes will become unaffordable to heat in the future if the council does not plan and execute the necessary work now.

A line graph showing quarterly performance trends from Q1 2024-25 to Q4 2025-26, with target lines at 200% and a minimum target at 150%. The trend line fluctuates, with some quarters exceeding targets and others falling below.
Quarterly Performance Trend

Jonathan Lloyd, Strategic Director for Change and Improvement, acknowledged the validity of Councillor George's point, suggesting that this could be incorporated into the development of future performance measures. The meeting information does not specify the exact criteria for 'social housing readiness' for the 2035 gas phase-out, but Councillor George highlighted the significant challenge of retrofitting and insulating homes to meet this deadline.

Councillor Abou Talha Chowdhury, Cabinet Member for Finance, Assets and Governance, added that while a condition survey is underway and a substantial investment is planned for property upgrades, the decarbonisation of communal heating systems and heat networks remains an ongoing challenge. The council has a £609 million pounds investment over the next 10 years, a significant portion of which will be allocated to replacements of elements like windows and spandrel panels, which will inherently improve thermal efficiency.

Bar chart showing performance measures for various London boroughs, with Tower Hamlets significantly exceeding the CIPFA average.
Tower Hamlets Performance vs. CIPFA Average

This preparation is crucial as the UK aims to phase out natural gas boilers by 2035, a move intended to reduce carbon emissions. The council's efforts, including the planned investment and ongoing condition surveys, are part of a broader strategy to meet these environmental targets while ensuring residents' comfort and affordability.

For more details on the council's performance and strategic plans, refer to the Public reports pack for the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting and the Agenda frontsheet.