Councils criticise Boris Johnson’s plans for 80,000 new homes in ELL boroughs as “too high”

Boris Johnson Pic: Boris Johnson Campaign2012

Boris Johnson Pic: Boris Johnson Campaign2012

Doubts have been raised over plans to build more than 80,000 homes in Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Lewisham and Croydon over the next 10 years.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, set the target for ELL’s four boroughs in an amendment to his London Plan for 2015 to 2025 – but three of them say the targets are unlikely to be hit.

Croydon council, with a target of 14,348, endorsed the plan, but it had a cool reception in Tower Hamlets (39,314 new homes), Hackney (15,988) and Lewisham (13,847).

The target for the four ELL boroughs amounts to almost 20 per cent of all the new homes that Mayor Johnson wants councils to deliver in concert with private developers.

Tower Hamlets Council has expressed concerns over the provision of infrastructure such as schools, health centres and parks needed for new residents.

In a submission to City Hall, Owen Whalley, Head of Planning Services at Tower Hamlets, said: “The Council is concerned about the new housing target in terms of ever rising density and the need to ensure there is essential supporting social and physical infrastructure.”

Lewisham Council has also raised doubts over whether it will be possible to meet its target.

Similarly, John Allen – Hackney Council’s Assistant Director of Planning, described the target of 15,998 homes as “Too high for the amount of housing that can be delivered in the borough.”

The debate on London’s housing crisis will heat up this summer when the Planning Inspectorate starts an independent examination of the London Plan which includes these new housing targets.

The population of London is expected to reach 10 million by 2031 – exceeding previous estimates. Meanwhile house prices continue to soar, with average house prices in London rising by 18.7 per cent since last year to £485,000, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics.

Housing charity Shelter is calling for more house building on the back of a their research that found that 99.7 per cent of properties for sale in London are unaffordable for the average working family looking to buy their first home.

Campbell Robb, Shelter’s Chief Executive, said: “The only way to bring house prices back within reach is to fill the gap between the homes we have and the homes we need.”

 

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