Docklands News

The revived mansion tax will charge homeowners £2,500–£7,500 a year on properties valued above £2m from 2028, but experts warn its impact will extend far beyond "mansions." In London, where many £2m homes are modest terraces, one agent says, "this is a terrace tax, not a mansion tax," hitting owners who may be heavily mortgaged or on fixed incomes. Roughly 2.4m properties will be revalued using automated valuation models that agents say are "notoriously unreliable for higher-value or unique properties," increasing the likelihood of disputes.

City AM (27/11/2025)   The Standard (27/11/2025)   The Times (27/11/2025)  

Tower Hamlets Council plans to construct over 52,000 homes in the next 15 years, with a commitment to affordable housing. Executive Mayor Lutfur Rahman expressed disappointment over Sadiq Khan's plan to reduce affordable housing in new developments from 35% to 20%. Rahman said: "We remain steadfast in our commitment to expanding. Our ambitious affordable housing programme." The council aims to make 40%–50% of new homes affordable, prioritising family-sized units to combat gentrification. The borough will also expand its Tall Building Zones to accommodate more housing. 

The Standard (22/11/2025)  

James Sproule, chief economist at Handelsbanken UK, argues in the Sunday Telegraph that house price growth in the UK is likely to slow because the key driver behind past surges - widening income distribution - has largely stabilised. From the 1980s, a growing number of high earners bid against each other for a limited housing supply, pushing prices up. Today, income disparities have plateaued, and the "wall of money" fuelling housing demand has diminished. While property remains a safe store of wealth, Sproule says future returns are unlikely to match the exceptional growth seen over the past 50 years. 

The Sunday Telegraph (24/11/2025)  

Dwindling housing supply and rising demand have led to sellers receiving offers above asking prices. Many first-time buyers, especially in London, struggle with soaring property prices, compounded by costs such as solicitor and mortgage fees. While first-time buyers in England and Northern Ireland benefit from exemptions under stamp duty land tax (SDLT), most young Londoners are unlikely to qualify due to high prices. SDLT, enacted in 2003, taxes property purchases above specific thresholds. Recent adjustments have reduced exemptions for first-time buyers significantly, impacting their ability to afford homes. Calls for raising SDLT thresholds in London are emerging, reflecting regional market disparities. Speculation exists about potential SDLT abolition, although its revenue is crucial for government finances. 

City AM (25/11/2025)  

Data from Santander reveals that 22% of first-time buyers this year are over 40, an increase from 18% in 2024. The oldest buyer recorded was 70 years old. The trend shows a significant rise in buyers over 60, up 14% from last year. In contrast, the number of buyers aged 25 and under has decreased by nearly 25%. Santander has a maximum lending age of 75 for capital and interest repayment mortgages.

Daily Mail (25/11/2025)  

Mount Anvil has secured planning approval with Riverside for the full redevelopment of the Tiller Road Estate on the Isle of Dogs, delivering 411 homes including 137 affordable units. The scheme will replace 72 existing homes with towers of 21 and 25 storeys plus mid-rise blocks, and will include community gardens and indoor hubs. 

Construction Enquirer (14/11/2025)   Housing Today (14/11/2025)