Key Points
- Plans to redevelop the Como Street car park in Romford into 138 new flats will go before Havering Council’s strategic planning committee with a recommendation for approval.
- More than 120 local residents have submitted formal objections, raising concerns over the height, scale, and potential impact on local infrastructure.
- The project was initially conceived in 2024 under the former Havering Residents Association administration as part of a strategy to convert six under-utilised car parks into residential properties.
- Development is set to be led by Mercury Land Holdings (MLH), a commercial home-building company wholly owned by Havering Council.
- Former Conservative ward councillor David Taylor has publicly called for scrutiny into the scheme’s financial viability, highlighting a reported £32 million cost increase.
- Havering Council maintains that the development will deliver vital local housing and reduce reliance on costly temporary accommodation.
Romford (East London Times) September 15, 2026 – Plans to transform the Como Street car park in Romford into a nine-storey residential development comprising 138 new homes are set for approval this week, despite encountering sustained resistance from the local community. The proposal, which will be evaluated by the Reform-led council’s strategic planning committee, has been officially recommended for approval by Havering’s planning department. However, the scheme has drawn formal objections from 120 residents who argue that the scale of the proposed block is entirely unsuited to the surrounding urban fabric, which is predominantly defined by two-storey Edwardian townhouses.
The controversy originates from the initial announcement of the initiative in 2024 under the former Havering Residents Association administration. The broader policy aimed to repurpose six council-owned, under-used car parks across the borough to construct residential properties. Opponents of the Como Street site have consistently characterised the high-density build as an overdevelopment of an outer-London neighbourhood, warning that the incoming population will place significant pressure on existing local services, access roads, and public amenities.
Conversely, Havering Council has defended the architectural design and strategic necessity of the project. Council representatives contend that the modern design will contribute positively to the visual appeal of the area while addressing a critical shortfall in municipal housing. Local authority leaders have repeatedly pointed to the severe financial strain caused by the borough’s reliance on expensive temporary accommodation for vulnerable families, maintaining that the delivery of new housing units on council-owned land is an essential measure to relieve budgetary pressures.
What financial and design concerns have been raised regarding Mercury Land Holdings?
If the strategic planning committee grants planning consent, the construction will be undertaken by Mercury Land Holdings (MLH), an arm’s-length commercial developer wholly owned by Havering Council. The relationship between the council and its private development arm has drawn scrutiny from political figures and residents, who have questioned both the design choices and the long-term financial exposure assumed by the local authority.
Former Conservative ward councillor David Taylor has voiced strong criticisms regarding the architectural suitability and financial governance of the application. David Taylor stated that the nine-storey structure was “poorly designed” and “failed to respect local character.” In addition to physical design drawbacks, David Taylor highlighted significant discrepancies in the projected expenditure for the site, noting a apparent £32 million increase in the overall cost of the scheme compared to initial estimates.
Addressing the financial trajectory of the development, David Taylor stated that “there may be an explanation for that change, but an increase of this scale should not simply pass without proper examination.” He further stressed the necessity of a formal review, stating: “We need to understand what has changed, why so much more lending is now proposed and whether the business case still represents a sensible investment for Havering taxpayers.” The call to submit the business case to an independent committee reflects broader anxieties regarding council borrowing and capital expenditure in the current economic climate.
Background of the Como Street development
The proposal to redevelop the Como Street car park forms part of a wider, multi-year asset rationalisation strategy initiated by Havering Council. In 2024, under the administration of the Havering Residents Association, the local authority conducted an extensive review of municipal assets to identify under-utilised property that could be repurposed for residential housing. Six car parks across Romford and the wider borough were designated for redevelopment to tackle the growing waiting lists for housing and to generate long-term capital yields for the council.
The council’s wholly owned housing developer, Mercury Land Holdings, was tasked with driving these projects forward. Established to operate on a commercial footing while retaining municipal oversight, MLH was designed to give the council direct control over the housing mix and long-term rental income generated from public land. However, the progression of these car park sites has consistently faced friction from neighborhood groups and opposition councillors. Critics argue that replacing suburban parking infrastructure with high-density apartment blocks alters the suburban character of Havering, converting low-rise streetscapes into dense residential corridors.
The planning progression occurs against a backdrop of severe fiscal constraints for Havering Council. Like many local authorities across Greater London, Havering has experienced rapid cost increases in social care and temporary housing provisions. The council’s planning division has maintained that utilizing brownfield sites, such as surface car parks, is the most viable method to meet central government housing allocation targets without intruding onto protected Green Belt land within the borough.
Prediction: How will this development affect local residents and taxpayers?
The impending decision on the Como Street application will carry distinct implications for both immediate residents of Romford and the broader tax-paying population of Havering.
For local residents living adjacent to Como Street, the approval of a nine-storey tower block will mark a permanent shift in the physical environment. The transition from a flat surface car park to a high-density development is likely to alter traffic flows, heighten competition for street parking, and affect daylight access for surrounding Edwardian properties. Additionally, the introduction of nearly 140 households into a compact geographic footprint will increase day-to-day demand on local infrastructure, including primary healthcare providers, public transport links, and municipal waste services.
For Havering taxpayers, the financial model of the development presents a combination of potential fiscal relief and financial risk. If Mercury Land Holdings successfully delivers the project within revised budget parameters, the influx of new homes could reduce the council’s reliance on costly private temporary housing, thereby stabilizing local authority expenditure. Furthermore, revenue generated through council tax receipts and commercial returns from MLH could support municipal budgets. However, if the reported £32 million increase in project costs leads to heightened borrowing requirements without proportional returns, taxpayers could face long-term financial liabilities should market conditions fluctuate or construction costs escalate further.
