Housing potential at Thamesmead Waterfront and Beckton - joint policy statement
Published 28 November 2025
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2025
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Following the announcement at Budget that the Mayor of London will deliver an extension of the Docklands Light Railway to Thamesmead and Beckton, supported by HM Government, we are reiterating a shared commitment to working together to unlock up to 25,000 new homes and 10,000 new jobs.
The Housing Secretary and the Mayor of London are committed to bringing forward ambitious plans for housing delivery, making sure the unique opportunity at Thamesmead Waterfront and Beckton Riverside, as two of the largest remaining brownfield sites in London, are used to their full potential. As well as stimulating economic growth, this will help to address London’s housing crisis and meet the government’s housing ambitions.
The New Towns Taskforce recommended Thamesmead Waterfront as one of twelve potential locations for the next generation of new towns. The Taskforce found that Thamesmead Waterfront has the potential to bring forward exemplar development, and deliver the best possible standards of quality and design. In line with the Taskforce’s recommendations, placemaking should be a key focus for the design of Thamesmead Waterfront, with a focus on clear and strong sense of place, achieved by high quality buildings and urban realm, and commitment to long-term stewardship of communal assets.
No decisions on new town locations and principles will be made until a Strategic Environmental Assessment and habitats considerations have been undertaken to understand the environmental implications of new towns development.
The government, the Greater London Authority, the London Borough of Newham, and the Royal Borough of Greenwich are committed to working together to realise the area’s clear long-term potential.