Boundary estate
The largest investment in council housing improvements in the history of Tower Hamlets has been approved today, Wednesday 18 February 2026.
The council has agreed an investment of £520min capital improvements to its housing stock to ensure that all its tenants have a safe, secure and energy efficient home. This is part of an overall £609m investment over the next 10 years.
The programme of works is part of the council’s dedicated housing improvement programme and commitment to ensure 100 per cent of council homes meet the ‘Decent Homes’ standard by 2036.
How the money will be spent
Of the total investment, £240m will be spent on ‘Decent Homes’ to ensure that every single council tenant has a modern kitchen and bathroom, double glazed windows, and a new energy efficient roof. £200m of the investment will be spent on building safety works and £60m will be spent on major repairs and enhancements.
It will ensure that council homes, including estates such as the Boundary Estate which was the first council estate in the country remain at the forefront of social housing for the next generation.
Lutfur Rahman, Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets, said:
“This is the most significant investment in our council homes in the history of Tower Hamlets, and it reflects our unwavering commitment to our residents. Our residents deserve the very best, and this investment marks a transformational moment for council housing in Tower Hamlets. Over the next decade we will modernise homes, improve safety, and make our estates warmer and greener.
“We have a proud history of social housing, and this investment is an essential part of improving this legacy. The programme is about dignity, security and giving every resident a home they can be proud of.
“We know – and we are – building new homes to meet need and tackle overcrowding, but we also need to improve our existing homes, and this investment ensures we will do both.”
Housing and more
In addition to the housing improvements, the programme will help boost local jobs and create new opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses through a revised procurement strategy.
The new strategy proposes moving away from using one larger company to carry out the works to a mixed contractual model, which means procuringeight providers, including four SMEs.
David Joyce, Corporate Director of Housing and Regeneration, said:
“This programme demonstrates a major step forward in our long-term plan to provide every resident with a safe, modern, and energy-efficient home. By making upgrades to the structure of homes, we are strengthening our building safety measures, prioritising safety and wellbeing.
“Our new procurement approach gives us flexibility and resistance that is needed to ensure high-quality work across our borough. Residents will rightly see more reliable communication with better performance and accountability.
“The investment is not only into homes, but into the future of our communities, ensuring our housing will serve residents with generations to come.”
Cllr Kabir Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Inclusive Development and Housebuilding, said:
“This mixed economy model will give the Council greater flexibility to match each project with the most suitable delivery method, ensuring better value for money and faster results for residents.
“If one provider is not delivering to the standards our residents deserve, their work can be taken over by another provider.
“We will be putting in place a new performance monitoring procedures to ensure that every contractor we work with is delivering works on time and to the highest standard of quality.”
The revised procurement strategy underpins the council’s wider commitment to providing high quality homes and thriving neighbourhoods. This investment sits alongside an ambitious housebuilding programme to fast-track up to 3,332 new homes across 37 Council-owned sites in the borough.
With a renewed focus on resilience, capacity, and value for money, the changes will help ensure quality homes and thriving neighbourhoods. With a renewed focus on resilience, capacity, and value for money, the changes will help ensure:
- Faster delivery of essential repairs and major improvements
- Higher standards of workmanship and safety
- Better energy performance and environmental benefits
- More consistent communication with residents throughout major works
- Increased economic benefits for local people and businesses
Posted on Wednesday 18th February 2026