Mayor Sadiq Khan has introduced a shift in coverage to “actively discover” constructing houses on components of London’s inexperienced belt to sort out the capital’s worsening housing disaster.
The transfer comes alongside a warning that Metropolis Corridor could intervene if boroughs fail to speed up planning permission for brand spanking new developments.
Sir Khan says present inexperienced belt restrictions are “mistaken, out-of-date and easily unsustainable” within the face of hovering housing demand, with the capital requiring roughly 88,000 new houses yearly over the subsequent decade.
Coverage shift to deal with housing demand
Sadiq Khan has introduced a serious coverage shift, pledging to “actively discover” the discharge of chosen Inexperienced Belt land in Better London for housing growth.
In a speech in Greenwich, Khan mentioned town’s housing disaster calls for a “radical step-change,” including, “we have to unlock a whole lot of 1000’s of excellent high quality new houses for Londoners.”
He acknowledged that the present Inexperienced Belt protections are “mistaken, out-of-date and easily unsustainable,” emphasising the necessity for motion to make sure London stays a metropolis of alternative.
Khan’s proposal marks a shift from his earlier stance in 2016, when he instructed The Economist: “There’s loads of scope to repair the housing disaster with out constructing on the Inexperienced Belt.”
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He now believes that with solely 13% of the Inexperienced Belt accessible as parkland, selective growth close to transport hyperlinks can tackle the housing scarcity with out sacrificing public inexperienced areas. “I can guarantee Londoners that we’ll connect the precise circumstances to any launch of the Inexperienced Belt,” he mentioned.
This transfer aligns with the Labour authorities’s pledge to construct 1.5 million new houses, with London anticipated to contribute 88,000 yearly.
Khan’s plan additionally focuses on making certain any growth maximises inexpensive housing, vitality effectivity, and public entry to inexperienced areas. “We’ll guarantee we enhance biodiversity and enhance connectivity,” he added.
Choice splits opinion
The proposal has elicited a variety of responses from varied stakeholders. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner described it as a “daring proposal” that addresses the problem of tackling London’s housing disaster.
Claire Holland, chief of Lambeth Council and chair of London Councils, expressed help, citing the pressing want for brand spanking new houses: “There’s a determined have to construct new houses, notably extra inexpensive houses.”
Conversely, the London Conservatives criticised the transfer, labelling it a “full betrayal” of earlier commitments to guard inexperienced belt land.
Planning consultants have additionally weighed in. Philip Allin, Director at Boyer London, famous: “There are quite a few examples of under-performing inexperienced belt in extremely accessible places that might now come ahead for growth… The important thing can be making certain that the advantages are clearly articulated and delivered with buy-in from the London boroughs.”
Contextualising the housing disaster
London’s housing disaster is underscored by a number of urgent points. Based on the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics, the capital skilled a ten.4% annual enhance in personal rents as of October 2024, with common month-to-month rents reaching £2,172, in line with the newest ONS figures.
Moreover, the Belief for London estimates that over 183,000 Londoners are at the moment residing in non permanent lodging, equating to at least one in each 50 residents.
This example locations a major monetary pressure on native authorities, with boroughs collectively spending roughly £90 million per 30 days on non permanent housing options.
Public sentiment displays the urgency of the state of affairs. A survey commissioned by London Councils discovered that 56% of Londoners help constructing on “gray belt” land, notably if the brand new houses are inexpensive to locals.
