Camden steps closer to thousands more homes by 2041

Camden councillors have waved through the borough’s development plans for the coming 15 years, including proposals to built thousands of new homes.

At last night’s (7 April) full council meeting, the Town Hall presented its draft ‘local plan’ for strategic development in the borough, including a minimum target of 11,550 extra homes – of which roughly a quarter will be “affordable”.

The 431-page “door-stopper” of a plan was endorsed by members from across the chamber, with some caveats.

Cllr Linda Chung (Liberal Democrats, Hampstead Town) applauded council officers for the “splendid document” but appeared unimpressed by speeches from the Labour benches.

“[This plan] is about pride in our environment, not just homelessness and planning. When you self-congratulate yourselves on planning and you knock the other parties, it’s so childish,” she said.

“What we’ve heard this evening is that people in Camden want homes that people want to live in – not just cheap, so-called social housing.”

She asked that the council acknowledges the residents and other stakeholders whose responses were sought for “an enormous chunk” of the plan, and asked that it be scrutinised in further forums so it can be “finessed”.

The plan was introduced by Haverstock councillor Nasrine Djemai, cabinet member for homes and community investment, who said the strategy document was about “dignity and respect for our residents and our borough”.

She referenced her own experience as a local displaced by HS2 disruption, resulting in her being moved to a new replacement home with the help from the local authority’s “transformative” Community Investment Programme (CIP).

“It gave me a chance in life, something not even all 431 pages of this new draft plan would be able to fully articulate,” she said.

“Anyone who cares about fairness and inclusivity won’t have a problem accepting this plan.”

Responding to Cllr Chung’s criticism of her Labour colleagues, she added: “There is a clear endorsement of this local plan and I hope everyone does continue to support it.”

The minimum target of 11,550 new homes by 2041 includes the aim for 3,000 of these be affordable.

According to the National Planning Policy Framework, “affordable housing” is that “for sale or rent, for those whose needs are not met by the market”.

Major developments are planned for Euston, Camley Street and Holborn, with key areas for “transformational redevelopment” planned at Regis Road and the Murphy’s Yard site in Kentish Town.

Other “key growth areas” for development include the O2 site in West Hampstead and Camden Goods Yard in Camden Town.

Housebuilding will be funded by the £2.3bn Camden has already invested in its Community Investment Programme.

In January, the council stated 1,780 homes have so far been delivered under its five-year housing strategy, 70 per cent of which are “affordable”.

“A further 330 homes are currently under construction and will be part of the 4,850 homes Camden is set to deliver, including 1,800 social rented homes,” according to the Town Hall’s website.

In addition, the council plans to buy 280 family-sized homes to alleviate overcrowding, and has allocated £350m for maintaining and improving its current housing stock.

Although the draft was first approved in 2023, the latest version now passed by the council contains several new proposals.

These include sites for student housing, accommodation for the Gypsy and Traveller community, and a new local green space at St John’s Churchyard in Hampstead.

The plan still needs to pass through further stages, including examination by the planning inspector, before it can be fully approved and adopted.