Campaigners are calling on the Mayor of London to help break a long-running deadlock over a community-led housing development in Shadwell that has remained stalled for more than six years.
The Cable Street Community Land Trust (CLT) was awarded a disused Transport for London (Tfl) site in 2018 with plans to build 41 permanently affordable homes, including up to 12 social housing properties.
Despite securing a £1million grant from the Greater London Authority to develop designs and submit a planning application, the project was paused in 2025 after TfL raised concerns over its impact on nearby Docklands Light Railway operations.
Officials estimated the scheme could add around £2million in maintenance-related costs because part of the proposed development site is currently used for access to DLR infrastructure. Alternative maintenance arrangements would require regular access to Network Rail land, creating additional operational and financial pressures.
Campaigners argue the delays prevented the project from accessing a further £7million through the GLA’s Community Housing Fund, placing the future of the scheme at risk.
Representatives from Tower Hamlets Citizens recently met with Deputy Mayor for Housing Tom Copley in an effort to move the project forward. Following the meeting, Mr Copley said the GLA had already extended Community Housing Fund deadlines twice to support the scheme and argued that TfL had gone beyond what would normally be expected to accommodate the project.
He encouraged the CLT to seek funding through the London Social and Affordable Homes Programme and to develop proposals that would allow TfL to maintain permanent operational access to the site.
Community leaders remain hopeful a solution can still be found.
Frankie Webster, Senior Organiser at Citizens UK, said: “Ten years is a long time for any community to wait, but we believe there’s now a real opportunity to make this happen.” She added that the development could become a landmark example of community-led housing that remains affordable for future generations.
Support has also come from Benali Hamdache, who said Community Land Trusts provide an important alternative to traditional developer-led housing projects and urged City Hall to work with campaigners to overcome the remaining obstacles.
Earlier this year, the London Assembly passed a motion calling on Mayor Sadiq Khan to explore ways of safeguarding the project.
However, in his response, the Mayor suggested delays had been compounded by the CLT not approaching officials regarding the release of the site until late 2024. By then, he said, operational requirements for the DLR had changed significantly.
TfL maintains it supports the principle of the development but says any solution must ensure the railway network can continue operating safely and effectively.
The project remains in limbo while discussions continue between the CLT, TfL and City Hall.
