The supply of affordable housing in the capital looks set to increase dramatically under plans announced by Mayor of London Ken Livingstone who today published his draft housing strategy.
Under Mayor Livingstone’s plans 50,000 more affordable homes will be built in London over the next three years – a fifty per cent increase in the delivery of affordable London homes and a doubling in the supply of homes for social rent that are desperately needed in the capital.
Under new powers due to be granted by Parliament to the office of Mayor of London Mr Livingstone will gain direct responsibility for London’s affordable housing budget worth over £1 billion a year.
The London housing strategy is a key element in the administration of that budget and sets out how the Mayor expects to use these powers to drive up the supply of new homes of all types across the capital over the next three years and beyond.
Mr Livingstone has also proposed a new London-wide housing capacity study to investigate whether it is possible to increase further the current target that 30,500 new homes be built in London every year.
The Mayor described the publication of his draft strategy as “a landmark moment for London’s city-wide government – setting out what I want to do with the new powers and resources in order to increase affordable housing in the capital. We are building on the improvements we have already seen in areas like policing and transport and applying the same approach of planning and investment to tackle the supply of affordable homes.”
“This strategy is a blueprint for tackling London’s unique housing challenges. We will build more affordable homes because that is what London is crying out for, which is why there will be no rowing back from the fifty per cent affordable housing target across London. Any attempt to water down the fifty per cent affordable housing target would make it harder to get the new homes we need.”
“The strategy will address climate change, one of our most urgent priorities, by building new homes and developments to much higher environmental standards.”
Mr Livingstone’s plans have been backed by Adam Sampson, Chief Executive of Shelter, who called on London boroughs “to deliver on the target set by the Mayor that half of all newly built homes should be affordable.”
“Shelter urges councils to put aside their party political differences and work with the Mayor to give all Londoners access to a safe, secure home.”
A copy of the draft strategy can be downloaded from www.london.gov.uk
