Lewisham Council Joins Legal Fight Over Housing Targets

June 24, 2026

South London News On Your Doorstep Desk Edited By Jimmy Nsubuga

Lewisham Council has joined forces with Tower Hamlets and Hackney councils to launch a legal challenge against the Mayor of London's plans to reduce the proportion of affordable housing developers are required to build. The three boroughs have jointly filed a claim for a Judicial Review of the Mayor's decision to adopt 'emergency' Time Limited Route (TLR) measures. These changes mean that new developments proposing 20% affordable housing would no longer need to provide justification, a reduction from the current 35% requirement.

Mayor of Lewisham, Liam Shrivastava, stated that London is facing an unprecedented housing crisis and that private developers have a duty to support the city. He argued that allowing developers' profits to go unchecked while thousands are on housing waiting lists is "totally wrong." Shrivastava added that developers should build as many affordable homes as possible, and that reducing this requirement will have "devastating consequences" across the city, potentially displacing ordinary Londoners. He acknowledged the challenges in the housing market but asserted that the Mayor of London has provided no justification for these changes, which are expected to reduce the number of affordable homes built. Lewisham Council's Local Plan aims for 50% affordable homes in new developments, but the London Plan and TLR override this.

Housing Crisis in Lewisham

Lewisham, like the rest of London, is experiencing a significant housing crisis. Currently, 10,500 households are on the Council's housing waiting list. Furthermore, nearly 14,000 households, representing 11.5% of all households in the borough, are living in overcrowded conditions. The borough also faces high levels of homelessness, with 2,450 households residing in temporary accommodation. In response, Lewisham Council is set to commence construction on four major developments comprising 100% affordable housing, which will deliver 421 homes, including family and accessible units, alongside job creation. The Council has also granted planning permission for over 13,000 homes that are yet to be built, indicating the impact of a stalled house-building market. There is currently no evidence to suggest that the Mayor of London's proposed changes will accelerate the development of these stalled sites. Investment in infrastructure, such as confirming funding for Surrey Canal station and the Bakerloo Line extension, is seen as a more likely catalyst for unlocking these homes.

Wider Support for Legal Challenge

The legal challenge is also being formally supported by four additional councils: Lambeth, Southwark, Waltham Forest, and Haringey, bringing the total number of London boroughs backing the action to seven. The legal challenge centres on the detrimental impact the Mayor of London's policy is anticipated to have on the ability of councils to deliver high levels of affordable housing for their residents. It also highlights concerns regarding the perceived lack of fair consultation and insufficient evidence justifying the Mayor's decision.

Author

South London News On Your Doorstep Desk Edited By Jimmy Nsubuga

From Town Hall decisions to resident-led reports, the South London News On Your Doorstep Desk offers comprehensive coverage of the issues that matter to your street. Our editorial staff provide critical updates on local planning, council services, and neighbourhood initiatives, ensuring our readers never miss a change to their local area.

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