The Housing and Inclusive Economy Scrutiny Committee met on 18 September 2025 to discuss the adoption of Local Plan Part 2, the Temporary and Settled Accommodation Strategy, and the Scrutiny Report. The committee reviewed the information provided in the reports, asked questions of the officers present, and made recommendations.

Adoption of Local Plan Part 2

The committee discussed the adoption of Local Plan Part 2 (LP2) and the next steps for its implementation. The plan allocates specific sites for development, sets out expectations for land use and design quality, and identifies site-specific infrastructure needs. The draft document has been subject to several consultations and was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for independent examination in December 2024.

Following hearings in June and July 2025, the Inspector identified modifications needed for the plan to be considered sound. A schedule of Main Modifications has been agreed upon and published for public consultation from 11 August to 13 October 2025.

The key modifications are:

• Reclassification of 17 sites as 'Opportunity Sites' rather than formal 'Site Allocations'.
• Clarification over mitigation measures to avoid harm to Epping Forest for sites within 400m of the Epping Forest Special Area of Conservation[^1]. [^1]: A Special Area of Conservation (SAC) is a strictly protected site designated under the Habitats Directive.
• Clarification that there is no expectation that housing will be delivered on the Temple Mills Bus Depot Site Allocation during the Plan Period (2020-2035).
• Amendment to the Matalan Site Allocation to remove it from the previously adopted Local Plan Part 1 sites identified as 'potentially suitable for tall building'.

The committee was informed that if the modified Local Plan Part 2 is found to be 'sound', the council can formally adopt it at the meeting of the Full Council on 11 December 2025.

Temporary and Settled Accommodation Strategy

The committee discussed the Temporary and Settled Accommodation Strategy, noting that Waltham Forest is facing unprecedented Temporary Accommodation (TA) pressures due to the housing crisis. Rising housing costs and a shortage of affordable homes are key factors driving the demand for TA and settled accommodation.

The report noted that:

Rising housing costs, a severe shortage of affordable homes, and an increasing number of households needing urgent support are key factors driving the demand for TA and settled accommodation.

The strategy aims to support households to move on from TA into settled accommodation, empowering residents to secure good homes and support their health and wellbeing.

The council has taken action to address the issue, including preventing homelessness, increasing TA and settled accommodation stock, and strengthening wrap-around support. The council has eliminated the use of commercial hotels and reduced the number of families living in shared accommodation. The council has also acquired 15 properties in the following wards: Chingford Green, Endlebury, Hale End and Highams Park South, Hatch Lane and Highams Park North, Hoe Street, Valley, and William Morris.

The committee was informed that the strategy will be published in November and will go to Cabinet for final approval.

The Scrutiny Report

The committee reviewed the Scrutiny Report, which included the Forward Plan, Action Tracker, and Recommendations Tracker.

The Forward Plan for the 2025-26 cycle includes items such as:

• Internal analysis of Housing Ombudsman's Severe Maladministration determinations
• Social Housing Regulation Update
• Housing Compact – annual review
• Adoption of Local Plan Part 2 and next steps for its implementation
• Temporary Accommodation Strategy
• HRA Rents and Service Charges 25/26
• Infrastructure Delivery Plan Update and Infrastructure Funding Statement 2024/25
• Housing Asset Management Strategy
• Commercial Property Update
• Planning performance report
• Tenant Satisfaction Measures
• Housing Digital Transformation
• Inclusive Economy

The Action Tracker captured actions required of officers at the previous meeting, including providing statistics on care leavers moving into employment and information on trends in the number of homeless single men in the borough.

The Recommendation Tracker captured recommendations made by the committee at the previous meeting, including providing frequent updates on the progress of the improvement plan.

The committee reviewed a response regarding the Housing Service Vulnerability Policy, and noted that resident engagement had taken place through surveys, focus groups and social media. The key feedback themes relating to the policy were:

• Contractors not adequately recognising or responding to vulnerabilities
• Need to recognise the broader household impact of vulnerability
• Communication barriers
• The importance of implementing the policy

The committee resolved to note the report.