BEFORE WE look forward to 2026, let’s take a moment to look back at what was happening in Tower Hamlets in 2025. What was the Council up to? What were its memorable moments? Here’s the highlights of the first six months.
January The year began with the Council looking forward to its budget-setting – promising “Significant investment to provide new and additional support for families and vulnerable people.” It was a pledge which guided actions for most of the year.
More good news came just a couple of weeks into 2025, when an Offsted Report announced that Children’s Services were ranked “outstanding” – the highest rating Offsted is able to award. The award was welcomed by Cllr Peter Golds and by two Labour councillors, who generously claimed all the credit (despite the fact that during their Administration the service was judged to be “inadequate”, and the Government sent in “intervention advisors” to turn the service around).
However, this was soon followed by the current Government sending envoys into the Council to help it navigate a continuous journey of improvement (at a not inconsiderable cost to the Council). Labour didn’t claim credit for the arrival of the envoys: perhaps they were disappointed that the Government had found so little in the running of the Council to complain about.
Before the first month of the year was out it the Council agreed a final plan for housing to be developed on the site of the Bow Common Gas Works. The site had been given planning permission under the Labour Administration, but the Strategic Development Committee agreed that the plan should be revised. It is now due to deliver 1,764 homes (up from 1,450) – including 300 “affordable” homes (up from 90).
February The Government announced there would be a public inquiry in front of a Planning Inspector to decide whether the Chinese Embassy should be allowed to build a new mega-embassy on the site of the Royal Mint, near Tower Bridge. Tower Hamlets Council had turned the application down the previous year, but the Government took over the process. After the public inquiry, they would take the final decision. We’re still waiting.
February also saw the launch of an Anti-Crime Task Force and Whitechapel Market being named the Best Large Outdoor Market at the Great British Markets Awards. The month ended with an event in Altab Ali Park to mark International Mother Language Day.
March The borough’s Year 6 pupils were offered places at secondary schools in March: 94.2% were offered a place at their preferred school – up from 92.5% the previous year. However, the number of young people needing a school place in Tower Hamlets is falling – the Local Authority is preparing for headaches in the future.
The Council was also busy with enforcement: a noisy pub was fined for excessive noise, and two private landlords were fined over £90,000 for renting out a two-bedroom flat to 22 people, and five letting agents were convicted of various crimes – and sentenced to prison. An anti-crime crackdown in Whitechapel saw four suspected dealers arrested. On a lighter note, Brick Lane was lit up with “Eid Mubarak” lights for the first time.
April
The capital’s oldest spa, situated in York Hall, was reopened after an extensive refurbishment. Ordinary people from across the borough can now afford to enjoy a spa session without having to travel to a posh hotel. Fees for other activities at the Be Well centres were frozen too.
Thirty-three new affordable homes in Bethnal Green were opened to new tenants, and 1,000 residents attended a careers fair in the Town Hall to find out about working in the public sector. Offers of primary school places were sent out: 98% of children applying were offered a place at their first choice school. The month ended with Tower Hamlets being named a “Tree City of the World” for the fourth time.
May On the third anniversary of the current Administration taking office, the Cabinet adopted new proposals to promote responsible dog ownership. It was announced that tens of thousands of pensioners had attended the Council’s Warm Hubs over the winter and drunk a proportionate amount of tea and coffee. Over 4,000 of them claimed the Council’s Winter Fuel Payments – introduced when the Labour Government cut back on the national scheme. We could do a great deal more in Tower Hamlets if we didn’t have to keep making up for the Labour Government’s cuts in support to ordinary people.
Robin Hood Gardens has been being regenerated in stages over the last decade. May saw the final building demolished. The new Blackwall Reach estate will have delivered over 1,500 homes when it completes. Days later, the Council announced an investment of £3.17 million to retrofit 122 homes to improve energy efficiency and reduce bills.
June
The arrival of summer saw a new concentration on health and fitness. Be Well celebrated its first year in operation by launching a new membership offer for those who want to play badminton. The Tower Hamlets Swimming Gala, a swimming competition for school pupils, was held after a six-year hiatus. Three parks – Gosling Gardens, Brickfield Gardens and Vallance Gardens – saw their refurbishments completed, at a cost of £400,000.
More suspected drug dealers were arrested in Whitechapel. A programme of installing 2,000 new Electric Vehicle Charging Points by the end of the year was begun. A development of 62 new council homes in Bow celebrated its topping out.
●Read more about it: Lutfur delivers: rogue lettings agencies caught! Council passes Mayor Lutfur Rahman’s “people’s budget”