Key Points
- Tower Hamlets, the fastest-growing and most densely populated borough in England and Wales, has approved a new housing plan aimed at significantly increasing tall buildings.
- The borough’s population is projected to grow by 20.4% by 2032, intensifying the demand for housing.
- Current overcrowding affects 15.9% of households in Tower Hamlets.
- The Local Plan approved in November introduces taller building zones and removes height restrictions in some areas to accommodate this growth.
- The plan aims to deliver 52,000 new homes by 2038, focusing on affordable and social housing.
- One Thames Quay, a 48-storey development on the Isle of Dogs, features 40 affordable rent homes and 31 shared-ownership homes.
- Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman calls the plan the “most ambitious and transformative” in London’s history.
- The move has met resistance from some Labour councillors, who raised concerns about infrastructure, neighbourhood character, and affordability.
What changes were approved in Tower Hamlets’ housing plan?
Tower Hamlets Council has formally approved a revised Local Plan that redefines its urban skyline by promoting the construction of taller buildings across large parts of the borough. As reported by Meena Iyer of Mortadella42, this plan includes expanding the designated tall building zones and easing some of the previously specified height restrictions to unlock the potential for higher density developments.
The Council highlights that these changes
“identify key site allocations for large-scale developments, helping secure vital infrastructure for the borough’s growing population.”
These developments are seen as essential to accommodate the borough’s anticipated population growth of 20.4% by 2032, driven by housing demand pressures.
Why is Tower Hamlets focusing on tall buildings?
Tower Hamlets is currently the most densely populated area in England and Wales, with approximately 15,695 residents per square kilometre according to the council’s budget report for 2025-26. The borough faces significant housing challenges, with 15.9% of its households living in overcrowded conditions as per January 2025 statistics, making urgent redevelopment necessary.
Mayor Lutfur Rahman stated in a council briefing covered by Michelle of Tower Hamlets News:
“This is the most ambitious and transformative housing plan the capital has ever seen.”
Rahman emphasised that
“Tower Hamlets cannot grow outward, so we will grow upward,”
underlining the necessity of vertical expansion to tackle housing shortages.
What are the housing targets and strategic aims of the plan?
The approved plan is part of the borough’s broader housing strategy,
“More Homes, Better Homes, Safer Homes,”
which aims to deliver 52,000 new homes by 2038 — a figure confirmed by Tower Hamlets Council documents.
The strategy prioritises affordable and social housing and sets out a framework to unlock height, density, and speed of delivery to meet this goal. The plan explicitly aims to address both overcrowding and homelessness, as reported in the council’s 10-year Housing Strategy unveiled in early December 2025.
What is the significance of One Thames Quay in the new plan?
One Thames Quay is highlighted as one of the flagship developments within this tall buildings initiative. Standing 157.6 metres tall, the 48-storey tower on the Isle of Dogs includes 40 affordable rent homes and 31 shared-ownership units, along with communal amenities such as gardens, a cinema, and a bowling alley, the latter detailed in a report by Michelle of Tower Hamlets News.
To put One Thames Quay’s scale into perspective, it approaches the height of London’s iconic Gherkin (180 metres) but is about half the height of the Shard (309 metres). For further context, the tallest building in Canary Wharf, One Canada Square, stands at 235 metres, while Big Ben’s famously modest height is 96 metres.
Who supports and who opposes the plan?
Mayor Lutfur Rahman and the Tower Hamlets administration are the principal advocates of the scheme, which they argue is critical to meet the borough’s urgent housing needs.
However, the plan has its detractors within the borough’s political landscape. Labour councillors Marc Francis (Bow East) and Asma Islam have expressed concerns. As reported on Twitter and council records, Marc Francis criticised the Green and Conservative councillors who supported lifting height restrictions, implying the vote to approve the changes was contentious.
Councillor Asma Islam voiced reservations about the potential impacts on the borough’s infrastructure and community character, stating:
“We support new homes — but not at the cost of infrastructure, neighbourhood character, or affordability.”
This dissent highlights ongoing debates around balancing development with community preservation.
What infrastructure and community considerations accompany the plan?
While the Council asserts the plan helps secure vital infrastructure, some of the opposition stems from fears that rapid vertical development could strain existing services and alter neighbourhood identities.
The approved Local Plan aims to integrate infrastructure developments alongside housing projects to mitigate these risks. However, details on specific infrastructure investments supporting this expansion have been subjects of scrutiny during council debates.
What does this mean for London’s skyline and future housing?
Tower Hamlets is set to reshape London’s skyline significantly over the next decade through this policy of promoting tall buildings. As cross-referenced by architectural data from skyscrapercentre.com and London skyscraper guides, these new developments are part of a broader trend of vertical urban growth in London.
The borough’s population pressures and scarce land availability create a unique challenge, making this plan a critical test case for other London boroughs facing similar issues. Tower Hamlets’ approach may become a blueprint for balancing growth, housing needs, and urban design in densely populated urban areas.
