• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MayorWatch

London News and Comment

  • NEWS
  • Twitter

Boris announces £5bn housing plan

November 20, 2008 - Martin Hoscik@MayorWatch

Boris Johnson was in central London this morning to launch a wide ranging and bold housing plan he says will deliver more affordable housing and improve standards for thousands of Londoners.

The Housing Strategy is Johnson’s biggest housing policy announcement since taking office in May and follows his decision to scrap a London-wide target of 50% of all new homes to be affordable in favour of individually negotiated targets for each of the capital’s boroughs.

Speaking earlier today the Mayor outlined an ambitious plan to invest more than £5bn on a range of schemes including steps to help more families into shared ownership and to buy properties in private developments and make them available for social housing.

A core objective of the strategy is to reduce pressure on council waiting lists, which currently stand at more than 330,000, by helping easily identifiable groups to find other routes to affordable homes.

Delivery of the new strategy will be overseen by the Homes and Communities Agency London Board which is chaired by the Mayor. The board will look across London for examples of ‘best practice’ and effective initiatives at borough level and promote successful schemes.

Mayor Johnson used this morning’s speech to repeat past calls for a return a better standard of affordable homes and said developers should stop building “homes for hobbits”. City Hall officials say Johnson plans to bring about a revolution in the way homes are thought about and enable families to stay in their homes, moving between renting and owning as circumstances allowed.

The administration is also talking up the creation of a legacy of decent homes which last well into the future and are able to serve the needs of more than a single generation of Londoners.

However it’s understood that despite calls from some on the London Assembly, City Hall  will not be publishing regular updates on borough compliance with their affordable housing targets and this data will only be available on a yearly basis. Johnson dismissed fears that some councils opposed the construction of more affordable homes in their areas and said all boroughs understood their obligations in delivering on the needs and ambitions of local people.

Johnson said the plans announced today “aim to put London on a strong footing for the eventual upturn in the housing market. By enabling ordinary Londoners to move from being subsidisers to being investors in new homes, we will provide timely support to a struggling development sector and can expect a return on our investment in years to come.”

Assembly reaction
Green Party Assembly Member Jenny Jones has claimed that the Mayor’s policies will deliver 5,000 fewer social rented over the next three years.

Jones accused the Mayor of “shifting the focus away from social rented housing and onto homes for middle income earners” and said he was “cutting support for those in greatest need.”

In a statement issued ahead of Mayor Johnson’s speech, LibDem Assembly Leader Mike Tuffrey said: “Not only should the Mayor publish ‘real -time’ data on completion so that we can all see which London boroughs are not serious, but he should not be afraid to use his planning powers to ensure that developments go ahead with enough affordable housing.”

“Fine words won’t build Londoners the homes they need.  Boris Johnson will need to act decisively or his election pledges will be proved worthless.”

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

Tagged With: Affordable Housing

RECENT UPDATES

852 new homes to be built in Acton by Transport for London

HGV operators in London urged to apply for a Direct Vision Standard permit

TfL proposes bus and tube cuts and annual fares increases to achieve long-term financial sustainability

London’s entire bus fleet now meets ULEZ emissions standards




Popular

1,700 extra Santander Cycles are coming to London’s streets

TfL confirms changes to Older Person’s Freedom Pass and 60+ Oyster card hours

TfL fares to rise in return for £1.6bn Government rescue package

Election for Mayor of London and London Assembly postponed until 2021

FEATURED

City Hall to move to Docklands as Mayor seeks to raise £55m for frontline services

‘Concern’ over TfL’s ability to deliver major projects in wake of Crossrail cost overruns

City Hall halts London Overground ticket office closures but many will still see opening hours reduced

Transport for London confirms bus cuts will go ahead despite passenger opposition

GOT A STORY?

As the original London news and scrutiny site we've been casting an eye over the capital's public services and politicians since 1999.

 

Many of our top stories started with a tip-off from a reader - if you've got something you'd like us to cover get in touch and we'll do the rest.

Stay In Touch

  • E-mail
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2021 MayorWatch Publications Limited · MayorWatch is Registered Trademark · All Rights Reserved · Contact Us · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy

MayorWatch Publications Limited · 20-22 Wenlock Road · London N1 7GU · Company Number 6291816

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.