Commenting on today’s emergency housebuilding measures, Antonia Jennings, CEO of Centre for London, said:

“Housebuilding by developers in the capital has plummeted. And we’ve therefore seen a huge reduction in the number of social homes built in London. 336,000 London households are on the waiting list for a social home. Many people are stuck in overcrowded, mouldy or unsafe housing. Something has to change”

“The 35% affordable homes target for new developments is admirable, and it’s one London should strive for in the long-term.

The reality is, however, that 35% of nothing, is nothing. When no new developments are being built, there will be no new social homes. If reducing the affordability targets to fast-track planning permission unlocks a substantial number of new developments, the end result will be more social homes in the capital. With the state of the housing crisis, we need immediate action and to make difficult decisions to get spades in the ground.

This is a pilot project, set to take place for two years. It must be used as a temporary measure to release the backlog of stalled sites and unused land, not as a long-term solution.”

“London’s housing system over the past 10 years has been riddled with economic shocks – from the pandemic to Brexit. We need a system which is far more resilient as turbulent economic periods become increasingly likely.

We need a better system across the board – which not only considers housing demand, but also our existing supply. In housebuilding, the long-term solutions are multi-faceted and range from, increasing the number of construction workers in London, to reducing the limitations of government grants, and fixing the financial foundations of social housing providers, by increasing the Local Housing Allowance every year to account for market rent rises.

Alongside housebuilding legislation, we need to see regulation of the private rental sector to prevent sky-rocketing rents, and a proportional property tax to prevent huge houses being under-occupied.

The core purpose of our housing system must be to reflect the needs of the people who live in our city. Our housing market must have a strong correlation to local need and demand. All adjustments to policy must have one simple, single objective – to ensure all Londoners have a safe, secure, decent and affordable place to call home”