The plan that will map out the growth of London over the next generation entered its defining phase this week as housebuilders clashed with other groups over affordable housing targets.
The public examination of London mayor Ken Livingstone's London plan has been under way since January. This week it moved onto the controversial issue of affordable housing.

The plan, published in September 2002, states that overall housing need in London will grow at 20,700 households every year until 2016, meaning an extra 700,000 people. To meet this demand, 10,000 affordable homes will have to be built every year – a target linked to the policy that 50% of all new housing built in the capital between now and 2016 should be affordable. Of this affordable element, 70% should be social rented housing and the remainder intermediate housing.

Bodies including the Association of London Government and the London Housing Federation back mayor Livingstone's proposals, albeit with some reservations on the likely concentration of homes in the east of the city along the River Thames. Sue Ellenby, head of the London Housing Federation, said: "The provision of more affordable housing is a priority."

We’re all for more affordable homes but the delivery has got to be within a realistic framework

James McConnell, House Builders Federation

However, housebuilders are expected to adopt a hardline stance towards targets they feel will seriously damage their businesses. James McConnell, strategic planning coordinator for the House Builders Federation, said: "Our view is that the affordable housing targets are too onerous. If we don't get what we want, it will impact on the future level of housebuilding in the capital, while we are already in a housing crisis.

"We would rather see an individual figure arrived at for each individual scheme. We're all for the delivery of more affordable homes, but it's got to be within a realistic framework. The figures in the London plan aren't workable."

Source

Housing Today