A review of the London Plan for housing ordered by the last
government has been withdrawn by the Deputy Prime Minister to
kickstart a new “partnership approach” aimed at boosting
housebuilding in the capital.
In March, the previous Secretary of State directed London Mayor
to partially review parts of the
London Plan – which sets out the strategy as to how the city will
develop and grow.
The Deputy Prime Minister has now withdrawn that mandated review,
but has also set out that action is needed to deliver the homes
London needs.
In a letter to the Mayor, the Deputy Prime Minister said she
recognises the issues London faces and will work with the mayor
to ensure he takes all possible steps to boost housing delivery
and deliver the homes London needs. Withdrawing the direction
will allow the government and Greater London Authority to take “a
new partnership approach” to tackle the housing
crisis.
Deputy Prime Minister said:
I know Mayor shares my commitment to tackle
the housing crisis and boost economic growth to deliver real
opportunities for Londoners.
Our new approach will take more fundamental action and focus on a
partnership approach to build the housing that London needs and
unlock the city's economic potential.
Under proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework,
London needs to build around 80,000 new homes per year – a record
and ambitious number for the city at over double the current
average number of homes built a year in the capital.
The government and the Mayor are committed to working together to
take all possible steps to deliver these homes, including through
proposed changes to housing targets and other reforms to the
planning system.
In addition to this, the New Homes Accelerator will see the
Ministry of Housing work with Homes England to further speed up
housing delivery, and money will also be available for London
through the £150 million Brownfield, Infrastructure and Land
Fund.
This is part of a wider push to build 1.5 million homes over the
next five years by overhauling the planning system and restoring
mandatory local housing targets across the country.
