Mayors fight over housing targets

Planning chiefs at the Greater London Authority (GLA) have said in a letter Lewisham Council is not planning to build enough affordable housing.

Under Mayor of Lewisham Sir Steve Bullock's plans, only 35 per cent of new homes in the borough will need to be affordable.

But according to London Mayor Ken Livingstone's London Plan, boroughs need to have a 50 per cent target for affordable housing.

The letter, made public by the leader of Lewisham Council's Green Party Group, Councillor Darren Johnson, warns the 35 per cent figure is "unacceptable".

It says: "The 35 per cent target could undermine the ability of the London Plan to achieve its affordable housing target."

Cllr Johnson said: "Sir Steve has been hauled into the headmaster's office for failing to help ordinary people get the housing they need.

"He has swallowed the line developers will be frightened away from Lewisham if they can't make mega-profits here, yet he's not asking homebuilders to prove they can't afford to build 50 per cent affordable."

Sir Steve said: "The correspondence dates back to the summer and relates to discussions between planning officials of the GLA and Lewisham Council.

"Since that time, work has been ongoing between the two authorities on the issue of affordable housing targets which are appropriate to Lewisham's particular circumstances.

"Whether the target is 50 per cent, 35 per cent or something else won't make a difference to the thousands of families on Lewisham's housing waiting list unless the supply of rented properties can be increased."

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: "An independent Examination in Public showed the 50 per cent target is achievable and vital if we are to meet the needs of Londoners.

"It is up to each and every borough to play their part in meeting this target."

He added: "A 35 per cent affordable housing target would be a major area of concern.

"We hope to resolve the issue prior to the council's formal submission stage."