Mayor of London Ken Livingstone yesterday called on London boroughs to
do more to help Londoners into housing and called for new housing that
meets the challenge of climate change.
Speaking at the
conference ‘Towards the Mayor’s Housing Strategy’, Mr Livingstone
confirmed that London’s overall supply of new housing is increasing.
However, some boroughs are completely failing to deliver targets for
affordable and social rented housing.
Addressing delegates at the conference the Mayor said:
“It
is vital that all London boroughs step up to the mark to meet the 50
per cent target for affordable housing – and especially the need for
more homes for affordable rent. The good news is that 28,000 new homes
were built in London last year – a 65 per cent increase since 1999 –
and that nearly a third of these were affordable – many for first time
buyers. The bad news is that there has been no similar increase in the
building of homes for affordable rent.”
“Too many boroughs are
turning their backs on those in most desperate housing need and I am
determined to see that change. It’s unacceptable that boroughs such as
Wandsworth and Kingston produced just 1 per cent social rented housing
last year, while others, such as Haringey, Barking and Bexley delivered
more than 40 per cent.”
“The London Plan target is for 35 per
cent social rented housing across the capital and I want to see all
boroughs taking their fair share to achieve this.”
