Forhad Hussain made the revelation in response to a question over how the council plans to “reinstate derelict land for residents in the borough”, reports Nick Clark, Local Democracy Reporter

Newham mayor Forhad Hussain (inset) is looking for private developers — Mayor Forhad Hussain (inset, credit Newham Council) is looking for private developers

Private investors could be brought in to develop vacant council-owned land in Newham, the borough’s mayor has revealed.

Labour mayor Forhad Hussain said the council was drawing up a prospectus offering up land that “could be brought forward for development”.

Newham Council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) it couldn’t comment further.

Hussain made the revelation at a council meeting last week. He was responding to a question from Labour councillor Robert Gordon, who asked how the council plans to “reinstate derelict land for residents in the borough”.

Hussain said the council “and its partners” are “working on a wide range of projects and with partners which will bring vacant land back into use around the borough”.

He said this included “developing an investor prospectus which will include vacant council owned land which could be brought forward for development”.

The council told the LDRS it couldn’t provide further information on which sites might be included in the prospectus, and whether these would be for sale, lease or joint-ownership.

Hussain also said the council is working with the Greater London Authority (GLA) to “support development proposals in Silvertown, Thameside West and at Royal Albert Dock”.

He said these would “deliver thousands of new homes and opportunities for local residents and businesses on brownfield land in the south of the borough”.

The council is also looking at whether it can sell smaller sites such as “small garden pieces of land,” Hussain said.

Speaking to the LDRS in July, Hussain said he was considering seeking partnerships with private investors and developers to build new homes.

He said this was the only way to build affordable housing without while managing council debt. “I’m really keen to look at a lot more public-private partnerships, joint ventures,” Hussain said.

“I think that’s the way forward. We need to look at our land and we need to have a lot more partnerships.”

The Newham mayor added: “The more we build, the more affordable homes we’re going to build. But we can only do that in partnership, and that also helps with the management of the debt as well.”

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