The Mayor of London Boris Johnson is on track to deliver 100,000 affordable homes by 2015 after exceeding his 50,000 target in his first term, new figures have revealed.
More than 54,000 homes were built over the four-year period, exceeding the Mayor’s pledge to provide 50,000 affordable homes for Londoners during his first term in office.
New figures from the Homes and Communities Agency show that in the past year more than 16,000 homes were delivered in London, which has seen the Mayor beating his target by more than 4,000 homes.
Having successfully lobbied for new powers from Government to drive housing delivery in the capital, the Mayor has now pledged to deliver up to 100,000 affordable homes in total by 2015, with the potential to create 100,000 jobs.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "Four years ago I said that if we were going to improve Londoners’ lives it was going to be essential that we boost affordable housing supply in the capital. The hard work is by no means over but despite some of the most challenging economic conditions for decades we have delivered more than 54,000 affordable homes over the past four years. By 2015 we will have delivered over 100,000 affordable homes for London, which will give a vital boost for jobs and the wider economy, as well as providing decent places that people actually want to live in."
The annnouncement comes just weeks after the Mayor announced the Housing Moves scheme, which allows social housing tenants to move across London's boroughs to take up employment, boosting social tenant mobility.
Last month the Mayor announced he had appointed a new board – Homes for London - to oversee the investment of his housing budget and to help maximise the potential of newly acquired land assets to deliver thousands of new homes and jobs across the capital.
The GLA took responsibility for the HCA’s functions, powers, responsibilities and funding in London from 1 April 2012 by virtue of the devolution set out in the Localism Act 2011. The Mayor’s housing budget totals £3bn over the current investment round (2011-2015).
Notes to editors
See below table for affordable housing delivery in London for 2008-9 to 2010-11. Data below is sourced from the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Please visit the following web link for more details and information.www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/affordablehousingsupply/livetables Table 1
* This includes 2,565 re-provisions (i.e. homes demolished and re-provided as part of estate regeneration schemes and therefore not counted towards new delivery.)
Table 2
This table sets out affordable homes delivery by borough in London (Homes & Communities Agency funded only) for 2011 to 2012.
* Includes 125 re-provisions
Note: Tables 1 and 2 are gross delivery, including the re-provision of some existing affordable homes. The 54,396 net housing delivery figure is calculated by summing the gross provision (40,910 in 2008-11 and 16,176 in 2011/12) and then deducting the reprovision (2,565 in 2008-11 and 125 in 2011/12).
Table 2 only includes HCA-funded homes, whereas table 1 also includes other affordable homes delivered in London without HCA funding. Verified DCLG housing delivery figures for 2011/12 will be released in November and total housing delivery for 2008-12 is therefore likely to be higher than 54,396.
- Chaired by Richard Blakeway, Deputy Mayor for Housing, Land and Property, the Homes for London Board will bring together a mix of highly professional independent experts to help find creative solutions to London’s unique housing need
- Affordable housing encompasses homes for rent (at social, Affordable Rent or intermediate levels) and for sale (e.g. part-buy part rent through shared ownership or equity loans through FirstBuy).
- The Mayor has worked to set up a dedicated website for people wishing to get on to the housing ladder. By filling out just one application form for First Steps London, households can access homes from over 40 participating registered providers and housing developers. Visit www.firststepslondon.org for more information.