London Mayor doubles target for new council homes to 20,000

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has expanded his aims for council housebuilding in the capital, setting a new target for 20,000 new council homes by 2024. 

This comes after the previous target for 10,000 new council homes by the end of 2021/22 was achieved earlier this year. 

20,000 more are planned to be built within a shorter time frame, as council housebuilding is taking off in London with more built last year than any year since the 1970’s. 

Mr Khan said: ‘There’s no quick fix to London’s housing crisis, but we’re taking some big steps in the right direction by backing a renaissance in council homebuilding. 

‘I’m proud that we’re reversing the decades of decline in council homebuilding and that last year, more council homes were started than in any year since the 1970’s, but I’m determined to go even further. That’s why today I’ve set an ambitious unprecedented new council housebuilding target, pledging to start 20,000 new council homes by 2024. 

‘In London today, we’re not just building more council homes, we’re building better too. The new generation of council homes are some of the best that have ever been built: modern, sustainable and fit for the 21st century. These new homes form a key part of building a better London for everyone – one that is greener, fairer and more prosperous for all.’ 

A £1bn Building Council Homes for Londoners grant funding programme has helped to achieve this feat, as well as a Homebuilding Capacity Fund and a Right to Buy-back programme.

Last year Southwark Council led the way, with 878 council house starts, followed by Havering with 593, Barking and Dagenham at 424 and Newham with 410. 

Bromley, hammersmith and Fulham, Kingston upon Thames and Sutton all started City Hall-funded council homes for the first time last year too. 

Under Mr Khan’s new 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme over 50% of the programme’s council homes will be built by councils to high environmental standards. 

To be eligible for funding, planners must show that the new council homes will be energy efficient and low carbon.

Developments of 10 or more new homes must be net-zero and incorporate sustainable urban spaces. 

Photo by Jaanus Jagomägi