Borough’s ‘Future Places’ report aims to attract investment by outlining key opportunity areas 

Tower Hamlets is looking for investment and development partners to build 52,000 homes across the borough.

shutterstock_1895902897

Source: Shutterstock

 The Thames Separating City of London and Tower Hamlets from Southwark 

Under its ‘Tower Hamlets Future Places’ (THFP) report, created in partnership with consultancy Arup, the council has set out a single framework for how it plans to regenerate sites on publicly controlled land and council developments.

The report includes up to 10,000 homes at South Poplar and Billingsgate to the north of Canary Wharf, 3,300 units across more than 40 council-owned sites and 1,100 homes to be delivered directly by the council over the next six years.

It was first published for cabinet inspection at the end of February, with a decision on the proposals due to be made at a meeting on 24 March 2026.

Since 2011, Tower Hamlets has delivered more than 160,000 homes. Its executive mayor Lutfur Rahman said the borough has built more homes than any other London council since 2013 and emphasised a focus on affordable, social rent, and family-sized dwellings.

He added: “We are directly enabling growth through the Mayor’s Accelerated Housing Programme (MAHP), delivering over 3,000 new homes over the next five years.

“Through our developing local plan, we are unlocking tens of thousands of new homes and jobs at pace with private and social housing partners, creating real benefit for communities alongside real returns for investors.”

Key areas idenitified as investment opportunities in the THFP report:

  • South Poplar and the Isle of Dogs: Potential for up to 10,000 new homes across publicly controlled sites within the South Poplar masterplan area, including Billingsgate Market. 
  • Canary Wharf: Over 3,500 homes are being delivered at Wood Wharf, while the One North Quay sciences laboratory is under construction.
  • Whitechapel: Backed by £800m secured investment for the Barts Life Sciences Cluster, the draft local plan allocations at Whitechapel North and South could facilitate thousands of new homes over the next 10–15 years, supported by Elizabeth Line connectivity and public realm improvements.
  • Brick Lane & Banglatown: The emerging local plan identifies a 20ha allocation at Brick Lane and Pedley Street, creating scope for a mix of residential, retail, workspace and community uses. 
  • Shoreditch & Aldgate: Mixed-use and tall building potential with opportunities for retrofit, densification and new commercial-led schemes.
  • Hackney Wick & Fish Island: Bow Goods Yard will create up to 5,000 jobs through a rail freight, industrial and logistics campus, alongside further opportunities for residential and affordable workspace development.
  • Leaside: Part of the ‘Poplar Riverside Opportunity Area’ with potential for over 40,000 homes across the wider area. Estate regeneration, industrial intensification and mixed-use development potential, supported by new bridges and infrastructure investment.
  • Central Tower Hamlets: Capacity for estate regeneration across town centres including Bethnal Green, Mile End and Bow.

 

Topics