Key Points
- Site Delegation: Councillor Robert Whitton and Councillor Martin Lardner, who are part of the cabinet members, examined the newly constructed modular homes at Waterloo Road and Queen Street, together with delegates from the partner in joint venture Wates Residential and the local council.
- Target Population: These modular homes are built to accommodate homeless families from the area of Havering.
- Financial Strategy: The council seeks to drastically cut costs on commercial hostels and temporary housing outside.
- Community Connections: Placing vulnerable families in the community will ensure that they live closer to their schools and hospitals and also within the local network.
- Overall Masterplan: The masterplan in the wider site was approved of in February 2026, resulting in a Pre-Construction Services Agreement between Havering Council and Wates Residential for Blocks 9 and 10.
- Future Capacity: There will be more than 100 affordable homes for the locals within the larger regeneration plan.
- Immediate Timeline: The initial modular home occupants will be moving in within a couple of weeks from now.
Havering (East London Times) September 9, 2026 – Senior local authority leaders and development representatives have conducted an official delegation to inspect newly completed modular housing at the Waterloo Road and Queen Street site in Havering prior to the arrival of local families in the coming weeks.
As reported by official communications from the London Borough of Havering, Councillor Robert Whitton, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, and Councillor Martin Lardner, Cabinet Member for Housing Need, carried out a comprehensive tour of the facilities. They were accompanied on site by Joe Arthur and Paul Nicholls from joint venture partner Wates Residential, alongside regeneration officers representing Havering Council. The site tour was arranged to review the quality and structural readiness of the units ahead of immediate residential occupation.
The purpose-built development provides modern, high-quality living arrangements tailored for local families facing acute housing crises. The modular units are specifically positioned to deliver safe and secure emergency shelter to individuals who would otherwise face displacement.
By delivering locally based temporary housing, the local authority seeks to lessen its financial dependency on emergency hostels and commercial temporary living arrangements. The scheme ensures that displaced families can remain within their local borough, preserving access to local education, community support frameworks, and family networks.
Beyond the modular homes, council delegation members received progress updates on the wider regeneration masterplan across the Waterloo Road and Queen Street site, where construction on Blocks 9 and 10 remains underway. Following official planning permission granted in February 2026, Havering Council and Wates Residential signed a Pre-Construction Services Agreement to construct over 100 permanent affordable homes on the site.
What statements were issued by council leaders regarding the modular homes?
As reported by official communications from the London Borough of Havering, Councillor Martin Lardner, Cabinet Member for Housing Need, stated that
“These new modular homes will provide much-needed accommodation for families experiencing homelessness, offering them a safe and secure place to stay while more permanent housing solutions are identified.”
Councillor Lardner further added that
“At the same time, they will help reduce the Council’s reliance on costly hostel and temporary accommodation, allowing us to make better use of public funds while supporting vulnerable residents.”
How does joint venture partner Wates Residential evaluate the project?
As reported by official communications from the London Borough of Havering, Paul Nicholls, London Managing Director at Wates Residential, stated that
“This project demonstrates what can be achieved through partnership – working closely with Havering Council, we’re creating high-quality temporary accommodation for local families at risk of homelessness, while making use of available space on a site earmarked for future development.”
Mr Nicholls elaborated on the project’s broader economic contribution, stating that
“As we continue to deliver regeneration across Havering, our focus remains on creating lasting value for local communities through new homes, investment, jobs, and skills opportunities that support the borough’s long-term growth.”
Background of the Waterloo Road and Queen Street development
The implementation of modular housing at Waterloo Road and Queen Street forms part of Havering Council’s strategy to address local housing shortfalls through partnership models. The overall site is part of a larger multi-site joint venture initiative established between the London Borough of Havering and Wates Residential to regenerate brownfield land across the borough.
Prior to the deployment of the modular units, the local council faced mounting financial pressure from temporary accommodation expenses, mirroring wider trends across Greater London local authorities. To utilize vacant land efficiently while long-term masterplans progressed through planning stages, council officers approved the temporary deployment of high-specification modular construction. Planning permission for the wider regeneration scheme, including Blocks 9 and 10, was formally secured in February 2026, establishing the framework for over 100 long-term affordable units alongside interim modular solutions.
Prediction: How this development will affect local families and council finances
The arrival of the new modular homes will directly impact two primary groups: local families at risk of homelessness and Havering Council taxpayers.
For vulnerable local families, the provision of modern modular housing within borough boundaries prevents forced relocation to temporary accommodation outside the local authority area. Children can remain enrolled in their current schools, while parents retain proximity to local employment, medical care, and community ties. This stability significantly reduces social disruption for households experiencing acute housing stress.
For the local authority and taxpayers, substituting hotel, bed and breakfast, and commercial hostel placements with council-owned modular units lowers daily temporary accommodation costs. Over time, reducing emergency housing expenditure allows public funds to be redirected toward essential services and long-term infrastructure, while establishing a repeatable model for modular housing deployment on secondary regeneration sites.
