Key Points

• Around 30 residents living near the Como Street car park have requested a meeting with Havering Council’s new ward councillors and Mercury Land Holdings, the council’s development company.
• A planning application for the site is expected in September or October 2026, with the latest proposals including a nine-storey tower.
• Residents say the development would overlook gardens on Linden Street and harm the character of an area dominated by Victorian family homes and historic buildings.
• It is understood the current proposals do not include any social housing.
• Former councillor David Taylor has formally requested a meeting with the new ward councillors and the relevant Cabinet member, citing confusion over their position on the scheme.
• Earlier proposals outlined up to 137 homes across four apartment buildings and four town houses, alongside commercial units and a new public square.
• Havering Council says the building heights were revised following public feedback, but no planning decision has yet been made.

Havering (East London Times) August 3, 2026 – Around 30 residents living near the Como Street car park have joined together to request a meeting with Havering Council’s newly elected ward councillors and Mercury Land Holdings.

Their request comes ahead of an expected planning application later this year for the redevelopment of the council-owned car park.

The latest proposals include a nine-storey residential tower, prompting renewed concerns from nearby households about the scale of the development and its impact on the surrounding neighbourhood.

Why are residents opposed to the proposed tower?

Residents say the proposed building would overlook private gardens and homes on Linden Street, reducing privacy and changing the character of the area.

They argue that the neighbourhood is primarily made up of Victorian family homes, with a historic building opposite the development site on North Street.

Some residents also say previous high-rise developments have already affected their privacy, increased disruption during construction and altered the area’s appearance.

Others have raised concerns about parking pressures, increased traffic and the cumulative impact of further large-scale developments.

What do the latest development proposals include?

The current proposals outline:

• Up to 137 new homes.
• Four apartment buildings.
• Four new town houses.
• Around five commercial units.
• A new public square and public realm improvements.

The proposed nine-storey building would form the tallest part of the redevelopment.

The council has previously confirmed that the design and maximum building heights were revised following feedback received during public consultation.

Will the development include social housing?

Residents believe the current scheme does not include any social housing.

Although the development proposes a mix of homes, concerns have been raised locally about the level of affordable housing that will ultimately be delivered as part of the scheme.

A final planning application is expected to provide further details on housing tenure and affordability.

Why has David Taylor requested a meeting?

Former Conservative councillor David Taylor has formally asked for a meeting involving the new ward councillors, the relevant Cabinet member and Mercury Land Holdings.

He says residents have received mixed messages about the scheme and want greater clarity on the position of the new administration before the planning application is submitted.

Taylor also highlighted previous engagement between residents, developers and council officers, which he says resulted in reductions to the proposed building height and changes to the design.

What concerns have councillors and the MP previously raised?

Previous discussions have highlighted concerns including:

• The scale and height of the proposed buildings.
• Loss of privacy for neighbouring homes.
• Pressure on local parking and roads.
• Protecting the historic character of Romford.
• The importance of meaningful consultation with residents.

Earlier planning meetings also heard concerns about the effect of high-rise development on nearby residential streets and heritage buildings.

What is the council’s position?

Havering Council says the redevelopment forms part of wider regeneration plans for Romford town centre.

The authority has stated that the scheme aims to deliver much-needed housing, commercial space and improved public areas while responding to feedback received during consultation.

Council representatives have also said that no final decision has yet been made and that a formal planning application will be considered through the normal planning process.

Why is housing being proposed on the site?

The Como Street car park was identified within Havering’s regeneration and housing plans as a suitable location for redevelopment.

The council has previously described the site as underused and says new housing is needed to help meet growing demand while supporting wider town centre regeneration.

Developers have also argued that higher-density housing is necessary to make the project financially viable.

Background: How did the Como Street proposals develop?

Plans to redevelop the Como Street and Angel Way car parks have evolved over several years as part of Havering’s wider regeneration strategy.

The sites were identified for residential development under the borough’s local planning framework, with Mercury Land Holdings leading work on behalf of the council.

During public consultation and strategic planning discussions, residents raised concerns about building heights, overlooking, parking and the character of the surrounding neighbourhood.

Following that feedback, the council confirmed that elements of the design, including maximum building heights, had been revised before progressing towards a formal planning application.

Prediction: How could the proposals affect Romford residents and local stakeholders?

If the current proposals proceed largely unchanged, neighbouring residents may continue to raise objections relating to privacy, building height, parking and the character of the area during the planning process.

For Havering Council and Mercury Land Holdings, the scheme represents an opportunity to deliver new homes and regenerate an underused site, but it will also require balancing housing needs with local concerns about design and amenity.

The meeting requested by residents could provide an opportunity for further dialogue before the planning application is submitted. Any additional design changes resulting from those discussions may influence both public support for the project and the outcome of the planning process.