Tower Hamlets said extending opening hours at the Whitechapel and Mile End centres could meet "rising demand from shift workers and younger adults". They also say it could allow badminton and other late-night bookings in the hall and more access to the fitness studio. The proposal is included in the council's draft budget plans for the 2026-27 financial year, which starts in April.
Tower Hamlets has pledged that half of any new homes on its land must be affordable housing and will prioritise family-sized homes over one-bedroom units to help combat gentrification, the Standard can reveal. The borough has said that 40 per cent of any new development that is not on council land will also have to be made up of affordable housing. The council is aiming to build at least 52,095 homes over the next 15 years, delivering nearly 5,000 homes a year.
She said: Selling corrosive products or alcohol to children is not only illegal but deeply irresponsible. These substances can cause real harm, and businesses must take their responsibilities seriously. Council officers discovered that Whitechapel Poundshop Ltd, trading as Whitechapel Essential Houseware on Whitechapel Road, sold a bottle of Knockout Caustic Soda to a 16-year-old volunteer during a test purchase on March 1 this year. The corrosive product, which contains sodium hydroxide, was clearly labelled with an age-restriction warning.
The Mayer Parry Bridge would connect the Leaway footpath in Canning Town with Leven Road in Poplar, with plans to build it having been in the works since at least 2021. The bridge would span the borough boundary between Tower Hamlets and Newham and is a joint project between the two councils. Tower Hamlets Council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) this week it had now found 4.8million to pay towards building the bridge.
Plans to run a 425m zipline from the ArcellorMittal Orbit tower in the Olympic Park are set to be considered by councillors next week. ZipWorld, which operates the 114.5m high tower, wants planning permission for the wire from both Tower Hamlets and Newham councils. Plans say the zipline would offer a unique and exhilarating experience for a predicted 60,000 extra visitors a year.
A London council has warned of far-right agitators attempting to import division into the borough, as it takes a stand against efforts to sow division in the community following a summer of protests. At a meeting on Wednesday, the council pledged to reject the presence of far-right agitators from outside the borough who come to target local communities during the protests.
Mohan Abdul, a lifelong Whitechapel resident, expressed feelings of terror over the St George's flags, interpreting their display as a racist assertion against multiculturalism in the borough. He stated, 'They are making it quite clear they are racist, the flags make me feel like they are trying to extend their [idea]. We live in a multicultural society.' His strong emotional response suggests a perceived threat to acceptance and unity in the community.
