Walthamstow town centre plans get green light

Waltham Forest Council has approved plans for the £200m redevelopment of Walthamstow town centre.

The London borough’s planning committee has given the green light to proposals to transform the Mall shopping centre, which will provide 5,000 square metres of new retail space, 350 new permanent retail jobs, 500 new jobs during construction, 538 new homes, a new children’s play area and re-landscaped town square.

The application will now be referred to the Mayor of London, who will make a final decision on whether planning permission can be granted.

These new applications built on the previous planning permission, taking on board local resident consultation feedback and changes requested by the council, such as retaining most of the lime tree in the avenue.

Capital and Regional, which owns the Mall, has worked with the council to maximise the amount of affordable housing generated by the scheme, including below market rent homes in the development and over £7m to deliver further affordable housing nearby.

‘Our public service strategy underlines the need to keep developing our borough so that every one of our residents can easily access what they need to live a fulfilling and healthy life within their local area,’ said the council’s cabinet member for economic growth and housing development, Cllr Simon Miller.

‘This development will deliver that concept of a 15-minute neighbourhood in the heart of the borough, along with enabling a new step free entrance to ease congestion at Walthamstow Central Underground Station. London desperately needs housing, and this site will not only deliver that, but thousands of jobs and opportunities for local people.

‘At a time where we are seeing people live their life more locally than ever before in the face of Covid, we welcome Capital and Regional’s continued commitment to invest in major improvements in Waltham Forest and provide confidence in the future,’ added Cllr Miller.

Lawrence Hutchings, chief executive of Capital & Regional added: ‘I am delighted that we can move forward with our plans to improve the Mall. A successful and vibrant Mall is essential for the health and vitality of Walthamstow town centre. Our investment in the centre will meet the needs of the local community by creating new jobs and homes and providing high quality public space.’

Photo Credit – Supplied by Waltham Forest Council