Two London boroughs earmarked for 8,000 new homes

Developer, Berkeley Group, has partnered with Homes England and the Greater London Authority (GLA) on a major regeneration scheme spanning three brownfield sites. 

The news comes as housing secretary Michael Gove announced this week every council in England must prioritise brownfield developments under a reform to planning rules designed to increase housebuilding.   

Under Mr Gove’s proposal, the bar for refusing plans will be far higher and planning authorities in England’s 20 largest cities and towns that fail to hit their housing targets (95 per cent) will be made to follow a ‘brownfield presumption’ edict.   

The three sites: 

Twelvetrees Park, Newham – The 26-acre former depot and coach park will include close to 4,000 homes, a secondary school, park and playground, and 177,000 sq. ft of commercial space.  

Bermondsey Place, Southwark – Nearly 1,400 homes across a 5.4-acre former light industrial site, alongside parks, playgrounds, commercial spaces and a civic square.  

Beckton Riverside, Newham – Up to 2,800 homes under the first phase of delivery across 28 acres. Following planning consent, infrastructure works on the former gasworks. 

Supporting infrastructure including highways, bridges and other transport links, and utilities and landscaping will be built alongside new retail and leisure facilities. 

Forty per cent of the properties on two of the sites will be “genuinely affordable for local people”.  

Homes England will provide Berkeley with a £125 million loan to undertake infrastructure works across the sites, with further funding from the GLA to drive forward delivery. 

The first homes should be ready in 2027. 

“We are delighted to be working with the GLA, Homes England and the London Boroughs of Newham and Southwark to bring forward much needed private and affordable homes on brownfield land,” said Rob Perrins, chief executive at Berkeley Group.  

“This is an important step towards accelerating delivery on these complex sites and we’re very proud to be part of this innovative partnership.” 

Tom Copley, deputy mayor of London for housing and residential development, added: “This partnership between the GLA, Berkeley and Homes England marks another important step forward in our mission to utilise brownfield land to deliver more high-quality, affordable new homes in the capital.  

“The new public green spaces and fantastic transport links will have huge benefits for future residents and the wider community – helping to build a better, fairer, more prosperous London for all.” 

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