Boris Johnson today published his further alterations to the London Plan – the overarching planning strategy for the capital. Unsurprisingly, the Further Alterations to the London Plan underestimates the need for housing in the capital. The alterations, published for a 12-week consultation beginning today, set a housing target of 42,000 new homes a year. However, the evidence base for these alterations demonstrated a need of 49,000 – 62,000 new homes a year.
Boris is failing to genuinely address London’s housing crisis. Today he committed to an annual housing target that is lower than the number his own evidence base says we need. The London Plan alterations say London must build 42,000 homes a year, but his own research shows real need is actually up to 62,000.
This target is too low, but even a low target may be too much of a challenge for Boris. The Mayor has overseen a collapse in house building – numbers have been falling and in 2012/2013 there were only 18,000 new homes completed.
Nicky Gavron AM 