The chair of the group representing London’s biggest housing associations has said the government needs to increase the sector’s funding threefold if the sector is to meet the demand for affordable homes.

Last month prime minister Theresa May said the government would set up a £2bn long-term funding pot to help housing associations build more affordable housing in the coming years. The money will also be used by associations to develop schemes themselves.

But Paul Hackett, chief executive of 44,000-home social landlord Optivo, and chair of the influential G15 group of the biggest London associations, said the government needed to stump up “well over” £6bn every year to meet demand.

“The next step is looking at the scale of the challenge and how we can fund it”

Paul Hackett, G15 / Optivo

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