Mayor of London Ken Livingstone today welcomed a deal which secures £268,000 for the provision of affordable housing in the City of Westminster.
The funds follow the Mayor’s decision las December to direct Westminster Council directing to refuse planning permission for an application to develop Crown House in Aldwych as the proposed development included no contribution to affordable housing.
Officials say the Mayor considered this to be contrary to the policies of his London Plan and in his letter to Westminster Council indicated his preparedness to cancel his direction if further negotiations between his planning officers and the developer resulted in an adequate contribution towards affordable housing.
The developers have submitted revised proposals including a contribution of £268,000 towards affordable housing elsewhere in Westminster leading to the agreeing to lift his direction and allow Westminster to issue planning permission.
Welcoming the deal Mayor Livingstone said “the shortage of affordable housing in London is so severe that all planning authorities need to take every opportunity for new affordable homes. Through this intervention we have secured extra investment in affordable homes that otherwise would not have been possible, helping more needy families to meet their most basic need :an affordable roof over their head and a place to call home.”
