Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
The mayor of London is facing mounting criticism over the slow progress in delivering affordable housing, as new data reveals a significant drop in construction starts for such homes compared to the previous year. According to figures released by the Greater London Authority (GLA), developers began work on just 1,239 affordable housing units between April and September this year, a sharp decline from 3,991 starts recorded in the entire last financial year. This decline has raised concerns among local politicians and housing campaigners, highlighting the ongoing struggle to address the city’s housing crisis.
Hina Bokhari, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the London Assembly, expressed alarm at the trend, stating that “affordable housebuilding has dropped off a cliff.” Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the mayor acknowledged the serious challenges faced, emphasizing that difficult decisions are being made, including the possibility of developing on the green belt. They also pointed to a record government investment of £11.7 billion backing efforts to increase housing supply in the city. Despite these efforts, the pace of affordable housing construction remains sluggish.
Earlier in the year, the GLA and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) agreed to reduce London’s Affordable Homes Programme target for 2021-2026 by over 20%. The revised goal now stands between 17,800 and 19,000 new affordable homes. To achieve this target by March 2026, developers will need to initiate construction on at least 11,430 affordable units. However, these targets appear increasingly ambitious given the current rate of construction. Bokhari told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that Londoners are desperate for affordable homes and expressed disappointment that despite many promises, the mayor “hasn’t got a handle on this crisis and doesn’t have a clue how he’s going to solve it.”
The latest GLA figures reveal stark regional disparities in construction activity. Four boroughs—Richmond upon Thames, Lambeth, Hackney, and Merton—have not seen any affordable housing starts since April, while Ealing and Sutton lead with 235 and 224 starts respectively. In total, 2,904 affordable dwellings were completed in the first six months of the current housing period (2025-26), a significant drop compared to 11,636 completions in 2024-25 and 10,949 the year before. These numbers come soon after ministers and the mayor agreed to reduce the affordable housing requirement in new developments from 35% to 20%, offering builders faster planning approvals as an incentive.
A spokesperson for the mayor underscored the complexity of the problem, citing a “perfect storm” of factors including legacy issues from the previous government, high interest rates, rising building material costs, the pandemic’s impact, and Brexit’s ongoing effects. The mayor is reported to be collaborating closely with the government on new strategies to speed up the delivery of affordable housing. MHCLG officials reiterated their commitment to reversing the housing shortage in London and across the UK by launching emergency measures, implementing planning reforms, and investing £39 billion in social and affordable homes to restore the prospect of homeownership
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.