But there are further critical additions to the policy portfolio on which I would like to see government action. First and foremost, of course, are the resources to turn round decisively the decline in public investment in affordable homes.
The extra money announced in the comprehensive spending review is a big advance, but we will need a significant proportion of it to be spent in London if we are to achieve my target of 10,000 affordable homes a year.
And I am well aware of the other urgent calls on these resources to deliver the decent homes target nationwide and to support renewal and regeneration in low-demand areas.
A second very important step forward would be for ministers to act on their already stated endorsement of the Housing Commission proposal that commercial developments should also make contributions to affordable housing. London Residential Research has estimated that this could generate another £200m to invest in affordable housing in London.
This measure could and should be introduced through early changes to existing planning circulars and guidance which should also include backing for my plan policy to do away with the site thresholds for affordable housing contributions. These can no longer be justified, given the scale of need in London.
What the government needs to do to help our capital city get the homes it needs
The research underpinning my affordable housing policies shows that doing away with the thresholds raises the proportion of affordable housing that can be achieved during the plan period from 42% to 53%.
Let us hope the government delivers these additions to the policy portfolio this autumn so we can move further forward with delivery of our agreed agenda for action to meet London's housing needs.
The London Housing Commission I appointed on taking office as Mayor concluded that London's housing problems and shortages were so serious that they required a comprehensive portfolio of complementary policy actions and responses. Chris Holmes, who was such an effective chair of the Commission, stressed the importance of this conclusion to me. Action on every front has to be taken side by side to make the impact needed.
The London Housing Statement published last month takes up this challenge with an agreed agenda of action on increasing the supply of affordable housing, reducing homelessness, developing the private rented sector, achieving the decent homes standard and linking housing investment into neighbourhood regeneration.
Source
Housing Today
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