Today the Mayor announced he has approved plans for a 21-storey building in Croydon that will be constructed 'off-site' - with up to 100 per cent affordable housing to buy. Nicky Gavron AM, author of the report 'Designed, sealed, delivered: The contribution of offsite manufactured homes to solving London's housing crisis' said:
"In our report, the London Assembly urged the Mayor to provide clear and strong leadership in raising the awareness of the potential of Offsite Manufactured Housing (OSM). It is an innovative, forward-looking and exciting way to meet London's growing housing needs.
This is a step in the right direction and it is good to see the Mayor pushing forward. We urge him to move faster and to take onboard the report's other recommendations, including:
- Working towards defining and adopting a Manufactured Housing Design Code.
- Looking at the potential of using public land to stimulate the OSM sector.
The affordable homes announced today should also include homes available for social rent, rather than to buy.
However, the announcement this morning shows that the Mayor is listening to the London Assembly and starting to encourage the sector to take this construction method seriously. It is only through using these techniques that we will be able to bridge the gap between the number of homes the sector traditionally builds and what London actually needs."
Notes to editors
1. 'Designed, sealed, delivered: The contribution of offsite manufactured homes to solving London's housing crisis' report attached.
2. Offsite manufactured homes (OSM) is an umbrella term for a system of house building that relies on individual components being manufactured in a factory, transported to a site and mostly, or entirely, assembled on location. Construction within a factory achieves quality control, that ensures fast builds and lengthy lifespans. Once delivered from the factory, they can be assembled on site in a matter of days or weeks.
3. Nicky Gavron AM, Chair of the Planning Committee is available for interview. See contact details below.
4. As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Sam Casserly on 020 7983 4603. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.