Boris Johnson makes move to abolish 50% affordable housing targets across London

Mayor of London Boris Johnson today took the first steps towards removing the 50 per cent London wide affordable housing target, a key manifesto pledge, as he opened negotiations with London boroughs to agree a programme to deliver 50,000 affordable homes across the city over the next three years.

Instead of imposing the existing ‘one size fits all’ target from City Hall, which the Mayor claims is unsuitable in the current market, the Greater London Authority (GLA) will work with London boroughs to agree individual targets for the number of affordable homes they can deliver based on their unique local circumstances.

To begin this process the GLA has today written to every London borough proposing an indicative target for affordable housing delivery over the next three years taking into account local housing capacity, recent affordable housing delivery and any existing targets the boroughs have committed to.

Each borough will have the opportunity to present their own evidence in discussions with the GLA before final targets are agreed early in 2009.

The Mayor believes that a more collaborative approach to working with boroughs will deliver the affordable homes that Londoners need and reduce the capital’s housing waiting lists.

The commitment to the housing investment target will be included in his draft London Housing Strategy, and the Mayor has pledged to alter his London Plan to remove prescriptive and what he believes are counter-productive targets such as the 50 per cent affordable housing target for new developments.

Mayor Boris Johnson said: "Too many Londoners continue to struggle to get a foot on the housing ladder, and many more are homeless or living in desperately overcrowded or poor quality housing with their families.

"The current policy of imposing an inflexible London wide target clearly does not work and in these exceptionally tough times it is imperative that we make the right investments now to provide the homes that Londoners need.

“Make no mistake - I want all the boroughs to make their fair contribution towards achieving our goal. But I believe that this can only happen by working with them so that we take account of individual circumstances and agree together what can sensibly be delivered."

The Mayor's Director of Housing Richard Blakeway said: "In a challenging housing market, the 50 per cent target will simply deter development slowing down delivery of all new housing across the board.

"Historically under the aspirational target only an average 34% of new homes built were affordable, far less than the 50 per cent envisaged.  The market now requires a fresh approach that focuses efforts on generating units in partnership with the boroughs and does not act as a barrier to developers.

"This is why we believe this move will put London in a stronger position to deliver the affordable housing the capital still needs despite the difficult circumstances."

Labour's deputy leader on the London Assembly John Biggs said: "There is a real risk that this move will simply let boroughs off the hook. How it will reduce the housing waiting list problem is anybody's guess."

Adam Sampson, chief executive of Shelter, said, “Despite his commitment to build 50,000 more affordable homes in the next three years, the Mayor’s announcement to remove the 50 per cent target could jeopardise the long term delivery of those much needed homes.

“London has nearly 54,000 households trapped in temporary accommodation and 334,000 households on the council’s housing waiting list, therefore the need for more affordable homes is greater than ever.

Mr Sampson added: “The Mayor must step up his game and work hard with local authorities to ensure enough affordable homes are delivered to help those at the sharp end of the housing crisis.”