Housing and Regeneration in Tower Hamlets with David Joyce

In this episode of Urban Forecast, co-hosts Oli Lowrie and Jon Ackroyd sit down with David Joyce, Corporate Director of Housing and Regeneration at the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. David shares his insights into the challenges and opportunities of housing delivery in London, the importance of regeneration, and the delicate balance between community priorities, developer interests, and government policy. From Tower Hamlets’ impressive track record in housing delivery to the debate around co-living and the future of Canary Wharf, this conversation explores what it takes to shape thriving, sustainable communities in one of London’s most dynamic boroughs.


KEY TAKEAWAYS

Tower Hamlets consistently leads London in housing delivery, outperforming other boroughs year after year.

Despite delivery successes, the borough faces a decline in social rented homes due to high levels of leaseholders and right-to-buy.

David stresses the importance of working in partnership with developers, investors, and community groups to deliver regeneration at scale.

Co-living is a divisive issue: while it may offer flexibility, David questions whether it genuinely serves the needs of the communities it claims to support.

Early-stage, low-cost planning meetings in Tower Hamlets encourage open dialogue with developers, making the borough attractive for investment.

Major regeneration areas, such as Whitechapel and Canary Wharf, highlight the need to balance commercial development with housing provision.

The borough’s diversity and strong community cohesion are seen as unique strengths that drive regeneration success.

David advocates for policies that make traditional C3 residential housing more viable for developers, rather than simply restricting alternative models like co-living.


 BEST MOMENTS

“Tower Hamlets has been the top housing delivery borough every single year for the last twenty years, and by a magnitude of two.”

“I remain to be convinced that the co-living sector is genuinely delivering for the people it claims to serve.”

“We’re not just regeneration-oriented, we’re community-oriented - this is our community, we live here.”

“Sometimes we need to be less purist about place-making and focus on what communities actually need in their daily lives.”


VALUABLE RESOURCES

https://www.ackroydlowrie.com 

https://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/Home.aspx 


EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT

Reinventing Affordable Living with Paul Rickard, CEO at Pocket Living

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyE1R-IZgdQ 

Inside Brent’s Regeneration Project with Alice Lester

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGRh8HgX0to 


ABOUT THE HOSTS

Jon Ackroyd and Oliver Lowrie, the visionary hosts of Urban Forecast, bring their expertise from leading their innovative practice, Ackroyd Lowrie. Known for pushing the boundaries in urban design, Jon and Oliver use their podcast to delve into the future of cities, sharing insights from their work on projects that emphasise sustainability, community, and transformative architecture. Through Urban Forecast, they engage listeners with discussions on how architecture and design shape urban living, aiming to inspire new ways of thinking about the spaces around us.


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