London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Jul 06, 2025

Sadiq Khan Urges Collaborative Efforts to Accelerate Housing Development in London

Sadiq Khan Urges Collaborative Efforts to Accelerate Housing Development in London

The Mayor of London addresses housing shortages at the Mipim property conference, calling for increased investment and streamlined planning processes.
In a candid acknowledgment of London's ongoing housing crisis, Sir Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, emphasized the need for improved delivery of new housing as he attended the annual Mipim property conference in Cannes, France.

The Mayor stated, "I'm the first to admit supply has not met demand, and we have got to do better, and we’re going to do better with the support of national Government, councils, but also with some foreign investment." This statement comes as London faces significant challenges in affordable housing provision, described as experiencing 'a lost year' in housing starts.

Data indicates that the number of new affordable homes in London plummeted by a staggering 88% in the last financial year, declining from 26,386 units to just 3,156.

Several boroughs, including Harrow, Bexley, and Richmond-upon-Thames, reported starting work on only a single affordable property during this period.

The Mayor attributed these reductions to high construction costs, inflation, rising interest rates, shortages of skilled labor, and additional pressures from global events such as the Ukraine war and Brexit.

The UK Government has established an ambitious target of creating 88,000 new homes each year in London as part of a broader goal to construct 1.5 million homes across the country during the current Parliamentary term.

This target represents double the average historical rate of housebuilding in London and has not been met in a single year since 1934. In light of these targets, Khan identified the critical need to expedite the often-slow planning processes at the council level, which he believes are impeding progress.

Khan further noted that while initial council discussions may be positive, decisions frequently falter in committee stages, leading to wasted resources.

He suggested that delays when councils are unable to reach timely decisions on proposals are detrimental to the community's interests.

In this context, the Mayor proposed taking a more active role in planning matters, indicating a readiness to assume control over projects where councils fail to make decisions in a timely manner.

He also announced plans to establish additional mayoral Development Corporations to boost housing development across the city, particularly in high-potential areas such as Oxford Street.

Highlighting recent legislative developments, Khan mentioned a newly introduced planning and infrastructure bill, which aims to facilitate housing development by eliminating the 'hope value' associated with land, thereby restoring viability to proposed projects.

The Mayor expressed optimism regarding the role of Development Corporations, stating that these entities will be granted increased authority to streamline project approvals and assist developers in navigating the regulatory landscape.

The recent election of a Labour government, viewed as a significant shift in the political landscape after years of Conservative leadership, has also been cited by the Mayor as a positive change for London's housing efforts.

This shift prompted Khan's participation in Mipim for the first time since taking office in 2016. He noted the importance of communicating to potential investors that the current administration is proactive in fostering a conducive environment for investment in various sectors, including housing and infrastructure.

With over 20,000 delegates at Mipim, Khan highlighted discussions with investors and developers from countries such as Canada, the United States, Japan, the Middle East, and several European nations, indicating broad international interest in London's property market.

Amidst the landscape of fluctuating interest rates and increasing market confidence, the Mayor reiterated the call for foreign direct investment as crucial to addressing the city's housing needs.

He underlined the need for clarity around investment expectations and comprehensive guidelines to ensure that development in London meets community needs while retaining regulatory integrity.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
×