London borough issues legal threat against Greater London Authority over affordable housing policy

The council confirmed that it had submitted a pre-action protocol letter to the GLA on Wednesday (10 June).

In a statement, a council spokesperson said: “We submitted a letter before action claim to the GLA because the reduction in affordable housing quotas would seriously undermine our ability to deliver the best level of homes and affordable homes for our residents.”

The council said it had since received a response from the GLA, which it is considering.

The statement added: “Tower Hamlets is at the sharp end of the housing crisis. We have around 31,000 people on our housing waiting list, some of the highest levels of poverty nationally, and the vast majority of our residents are living in overcrowded homes.

“We need more genuinely affordable homes, not less. Our Local Plan sets out a strategic overall target of 50% and a scheme-by-scheme target of 35%, so a reduction to 20% goes against everything we stand for.”

The GLA introduced a raft of temporary emergency measures in January 2026, including the reduction of Community Infrastructure Levy charges by 50% on schemes which deliver at least 20% affordable housing.

It also announced temporary measures to allow schemes that provide at least 20% affordable housing to proceed without an upfront viability assessment.

Commenting on the move, the GLA said: “These schemes would also be allowed to access grant funding for around half of the affordable homes delivered. This route would lower the affordable housing target for eligible schemes from the current requirement of 35 per cent affordable housing to 20 per cent.”

The authority also implemented temporary relief from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), removal of guidance which restrained density, and new call-in powers for the Mayor.

It is not yet clear which exact policy decision the London borough is challenging.

Adam Carey