There were a lot of big announcements about London housing last year amid a slump in supply that made the capital’s heroic, government-set delivery targets look even more unrealistic. What has happened since then? Have the emergency measures agreed between Secretary of State Steve Reed and Sir Sadiq Khan started to have any effect? Is progress being made towards building the two New Towns in London that were recommended by the government’s task force?
Then there was the problem of the new building safety regulations – not the regulations themselves, but the very slow process of ensuring that development projects adhered to them. That was a major drag on getting things going. Meanwhile, housing associations, so vital for providing various kinds of “affordable” homes in London, including at low cost rent levels, were struggling with their own financial problems. Then there was the terrible rise in homelessness and the burden this was placing on many of London’s local authorities.
It’s been hard to keep up with everything. But one person has is Daniel Reast, senior research officer with think tank Centre for London. It was a treat to have him as my guest for the latest True London podcast, which you can watch below or just listen to it here.
By the end, you will be up to speed with all the action (and inaction) and all the policy changes that have happened or will do soon. The future context is the start of consultation on the Mayor’s next London Plan, which looks like it will begin in June. The podcast is just under 20 minutes long. The good news is that some of it is actually quite cheerful.
Hopefully, Dan will make another True London appearance soon. Centre for London is to hold a housing summit on 21 April and promises “early insights” from its ambitious Delivering the Homes London Needs programme.
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