The London Borough of Havering, in partnership with Wates Residential, has secured planning approval for 18 modular homes on the Waterloo and Queen Street Estate in Romford. The project marks a key milestone in a pilot initiative aimed at transforming the provision of temporary housing across the capital.
Part of a broader regeneration joint venture between Havering Council and Wates Residential to deliver up to 5,000 new homes borough-wide, the scheme addresses the urgent challenge of rising housing demand and costs—issues that currently cost councils across the UK £2.1 billion annually and have left record numbers of children living in hotels and B&Bs.
Developed in collaboration with architects, suppliers, planners, manufacturers, and local authorities, the modular homes in Romford are designed as pre-fabricated standard units that can be built twice as fast as traditional homes and relocated if necessary. With energy-efficient features and low carbon footprints, the units involve minimal disruption during installation and meet the same quality standards as permanent housing.
Each home will include private bedrooms, family bathrooms, kitchens, and living spaces, providing a stable and dignified living environment for families facing housing insecurity. Despite being intended as temporary accommodation, the homes are built to last up to 60 years, offering councils a sustainable long-term solution.
Councillor Graham Williamson, Cabinet Lead for Development and Regeneration at Havering Council, said: “These modular homes will offer a significant improvement on current options like hostels and hotels, giving families a safer, more stable place to live at less cost to the taxpayer, while we continue delivering long-term regeneration across the borough.”
Paul Nicholls, Regional Managing Director for London at Wates Residential, added: “This decision shows what’s possible when we take bold approaches to tackling the housing crisis. Councils across the country are spending £2.1bn annually on hotels and hostels that have a devastating impact on their wellbeing and development. Our temporary modular homes provide a real solution.
“These homes demonstrate that temporary accommodation can be high-quality, energy-efficient and designed around people’s needs, not just a stopgap, but a real place to live and thrive. We’re proud to be working with Havering Council to deliver a solution that is fast, flexible and focused on families.”
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