Planning requirements are being renegotiated to unblock stalled sites

In August, Camden Council approved a cut to the affordable housing provision of a planned development at Finchley Road, which had stalled over increased costs and fire safety rules.  Affordable housing requirements for the scheme, which had been granted planning permission in 2023 for 1,800 units, was reduced from 35% to 20%, while several buildings will be increased in height by up to two storeys to “optimise housing delivery in the earlier phase on this highly sustainable brownfield site”.  While the first phase of the development was increased from 608 homes to 651, the number of affordable homes was reduced from 192 to 100, split 60% for social rent and 40% for intermediate rent.