The new seven storey building in Barking Road will provide 15 homes reports Ruby Gregory, Local Democracy Reporter

A row of shops in Barking Road in Canning Town — The affected site is currently home to a cluster of shops and five two-bed flats – (Credit – Google Street View)

Plans to build a block of flats in Canning Town have been given the green light – despite none of them being ‘affordable’. The site, which is located at 116-122 Barking Road, is currently home to a cluster of shops, including a barbershop, a pawnbroker and 5 two-bed flats.

The plans will see a set of two-storey buildings demolished to make way for a new seven-storey building that will provide 15 new homes, consisting of 10 one-bedrooms and 5 three-bedrooms. ‘Affordable’ housing is defined as social housing, intermediate housing that is sold or rented out below market value, and affordable rented housing that is let out to people at a discounted rent. However, all 15 homes are set to go on the private market.

During a public consultation, the plans received six responses, all objections. These included concerns over the lack of affordable housing on offer, as well as the potential loss of existing local businesses currently located on-site. Objectors also said the site is home to some of the oldest buildings in Canning Town, and the scale and design of the development is not ‘in keeping’ with this part of Barking Road.

During a meeting with Newham Council’s local development committee on Monday, April 7, a representative of the applicant said the development was of high quality and ‘addresses the housing needs’. However, later in the meeting, Cllr Femi Falola questioned whether the development was for local people.

Cllr Falola said: “Is it fair to say that your target audience is not Newham residents? Is it fair to say that?” The representative responded and said they didn’t have ‘any control’ over the type of people who would be living in the flats but that they would be ‘providing’ for the local community.

Newham currently has the highest number of households staying in temporary accommodation in the country and more than 38,000 households on the housing waiting list. In addition to having stark temporary accommodation figures, Trust for London data shows Newham has poverty rates that are higher than the London average and compared to England as a whole.

Back at the meeting, Cllr James Beckles said: “Who are you gearing these properties towards? Is it young professionals? Is it a mix of families? And is there any way to have a conversation with officers about the number of family homes? Can you give us some rationale behind it?”

In response, the representative said the financial viability report demonstrated ‘very clearly’ that the site wasn’t viable for affordable housing as it wouldn’t make enough profit. He added: “But what we have looked at here is we’ve given 33per cent of [it to] three-beds and [as for] the one-beds, we’re more looking at [them] for professionals coming into the area at the same time who want to downsize.”

The development will also deliver 350 sqm of commercial space, which the representative said will support a range of potential tenants. Cllr Jane Lofthouse asked what would happen to the local businesses currently existing on the site; however, the representative said he couldn’t comment on this or their lease agreements.

He went on to say: “[The businesses] have a potential to take back a lease or ask for a new lease but I cannot comment on that, it’s beyond my remit.” Despite no affordable housing being offered, the plans were approved which means the development will go ahead. Five councillors voted for the plans, while two voted against with one councillor abstaining.

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.