The London Borough of Havering, in partnership with Wates Residential, has secured planning approval for 18 modular homes on the Waterloo and Queen Street Estate in Romford.

The project marks a key milestone in a pilot initiative aimed at transforming the provision of temporary housing across the capital.

Part of a broader regeneration joint venture between Havering Council and Wates Residential to deliver up to 5,000 new homes borough-wide, the scheme addresses the urgent challenge of rising housing demand and costs—issues that currently cost councils across the UK £2.1 billion annually and have left record numbers of children living in hotels and B&Bs.

Developed in collaboration with architects, suppliers, planners, manufacturers, and local authorities, the modular homes are designed as pre-fabricated standard units that can be built twice as fast as traditional homes and relocated if necessary. With energy-efficient features and low carbon footprints, the units involve minimal disruption during installation and meet the same quality standards as permanent housing.

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Each home will include private bedrooms, family bathrooms, kitchens, and living spaces, providing a stable and dignified living environment for families facing housing insecurity. Despite being intended as temporary accommodation, the homes are built to last up to 60 years, offering councils a sustainable long-term solution.

Councillor Graham Williamson, Cabinet Lead for Development and Regeneration at Havering Council, said: "These modular homes will offer a significant improvement on current options like hostels and hotels, giving families a safer, more stable place to live at less cost to the taxpayer, while we continue delivering long-term regeneration across the borough."

Paul Nicholls, Regional Managing Director for London at Wates Residential, added: "This decision shows what’s possible when we take bold approaches to tackling the housing crisis. Councils across the country are spending £2.1bn annually on hotels and hostels that have a devastating impact on their wellbeing and development. Our temporary modular homes provide a real solution.

"These homes demonstrate that temporary accommodation can be high-quality, energy-efficient and designed around people's needs, not just a stopgap, but a real place to live and thrive. We're proud to be working with Havering Council to deliver a solution that is fast, flexible and focused on families."