Lyn Garner, chief executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), has taken on an additional role helping other organisations within the Greater London Authority group, including Transport for London, to increase the supply of affordable homes on land they own.
Her appointment implements a recommendation by former senior civil servant Bob Kerslake included in a review, published in March, which said “an established senior professional lead” should “provide strategic oversight” of the various GLA group bodies with land that can be developed for homes in order to “align the approach to housing delivery” and make it more efficient.
Garner, who has been chief executive of the LLDC since early 2018, has led the implementation of Khan’s housing policies in and around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, resulting in higher proportions and quantities of “genuinely affordable” homes in planning consents granted by the LLDC as the area’s planning authority, with financial help from City Hall.
Kerslake’s 94-page review, commissioned to fulfil a 2021 Khan election manifesto pledge, said the GLA Group, which also includes the London Fire Brigade and the Old Oak & Park Royal Development Corporation along with the LLDC, was already making “a significant contribution to housing delivery in London”, with the construction of more than 17,000 homes started since 2016 – the year Khan was first elected – of which over 6,000 have been affordable.
However, he said “housing delivery remains uneven across the group” and explored ways its members could “streamline their activities, increase collaboration and share expertise across teams” to improve delivery. The creation of a person “responsible for overseeing housing delivery across the GLA Group” was described as a vital element of improved “oversight arrangements”.
Garner said: “It’s a privilege to be asked to coordinate the delivery of housing on behalf of the Mayor,” adding that “in these times of continuing uncertainty we must use the skills and experience we have to drive the existing programme and explore all avenues to deliver even more”.
Khan said Garner’s “skills and experience” made her “well placed to co-ordinate the changes required” and his deputy for housing, Tom Copley, described himself as “really pleased” by her appointment.
Photo: New housing on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
On London is a small but influential website which strives to provide more of the kind of journalism the capital city needs. Become a supporter for £5 a month or £50 a year and receive an action-packed weekly newsletter and free entry to online events. Details here.