Sadiq Khan has been accused of “betraying the people of Walthamstow” after approving plans which include four high-rise tower blocks in the town square.

The Mayor of London backed the controversial redevelopment on Tuesday, March 20, three weeks after he named Waltham Forest Borough of Culture 2019.

Thousands of people signed a petition against the plans which were given the green light by Waltham Forest Council in December and hundreds protested at an ‘Occupy the Square’ event in February.

Campaigner David Gardiner said in a statement: “Sadiq Khan betrayed the people of Walthamstow by granting second stage approval to Capital and Regional’s plans to redevelop our town square.

“The Mayor claims that he has listened to local people. Like the almost 3,000 of them who signed a petition or wrote individual letters objecting to the proposals before the planning meeting in December?”

Waltham Forest Council said the percentage of the 500 homes deemed ‘affordable’ has been raised from 20 to 30 per cent following negotiations with developers Capital & Regional and the GLA.

The scheme which also includes plans for 8,000 sq m of retail space and a children’s playground is expected to bring £200 million of private investment and create 350 permanent retail jobs.

As part of the project, Transport for London has pledged £15m for improvements to Walthamstow Central station which include a new entrance.

And £7.3 million from the development will go towards building affordable homes elsewhere in the town.

Save Our Square campaigner Linda Taaffe said the group were getting ready to hold a meeting when they received the news.

She said: “The initial feeling was shock, then the feeling of terrible betrayal and then of outrage because Khan claimed he had listened to the local community.

“Many people in the room had campaigned for Khan to become Mayor. It’s outrageous.

“I’m very much in favour of the Borough of Culture and developing the arts and literature but what I would like to see is the culture of struggle against the developers.

“We have to fight for our young people who are being driven out of London. It’s crunch time.”

Approving the plans for redevelopment of the town centre and square, Mr Khan said: “Today is an important day in the delivery of genuinely affordable homes in Waltham Forest – an area of the capital which has seen significant pressure on housing and a sharp rise in property prices in recent years – and we have listened carefully to the local community.

“Through these two developments, Londoners will soon be able to benefit from hundreds of new genuinely affordable homes, including those that the council will look to build through their own homebuilding programme.”

Council Leader Clare Coghill echoed Mr Khan’s comments and assured the borough’s residents the redevelopment will be of benefit to them.

She said: “The Mayor’s decision to approve the redevelopment of the Mall in Walthamstow will radically improve the town centre, replacing the existing town square and shopping centre which is tired, underused and not good enough for our residents.

“A new and expanded Mall will give a significant boost to the local economy, giving our residents the opportunity to shop in the borough rather than going further afield, which has a detrimental effect on our local economy.”

Campaigners will gather at Walthamstow Town Square on Saturday, March 24 at 2pm to pin messages to trees destined for the chop.

The council said for every tree cut down in the square, five more will be planted elsewhere in the borough.

What are your thoughts on the redevelopment? Email laura.ocallaghan@london.newsquest.co.uk.