Sadiq Khan proposes building on green belt to tackle London housing crisis

Building on green belt land will fix the housing crisis in the capital, claims London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced a public consultation on plans to build more affordable homes, including on selected areas of green belt land.

Generation Rent has welcomed the proposals, saying they “will help protect Londoners from the eye-watering cost of renting.”

However, City Hall Conservatives have slammed the proposals as “a failure”.

The status quo is wrong, out-of-date and simply unsustainable

According to the London Assembly, to meet demand, London needs 88,000 new homes a year over the next decade.

Mr Khan claims that just building on brownfield sites will not be enough to solve the housing crisis and says the status quo on green belt land is “out-of-date”.

He said: “The perception many people have is that the green belt is all beautiful countryside, green and pleasant land, rich with wildlife. The reality is very different. The green belt can often be low-quality land, poorly maintained and rarely enjoyed by Londoners. Only around 13% is made up of parks and areas that the public can access.

“Given the quality of parts of the London’s green belt and the extent of the housing crisis, I believe the status quo is wrong, out-of-date and simply unsustainable. Development on carefully chosen parts of the green belt – done in the right way – would allow us to unlock hundreds of thousands of good quality new homes for Londoners. This would not only go a long way to ending the housing crisis but provide a huge boost to our economy.”

Reaction to building on green belt land

Generation Rent CEO Ben Twomey welcomed the proposals, claiming renters will benefit.

He said: “Building new homes where people want to live is vital to protect Londoners from the eye-watering cost of renting.

“When housing costs are forcing too many of us into poverty and homelessness, it is right that the Mayor sets out his ambition to build the homes we need, including in parts of the green belt where appropriate. I encourage renters across the capital to have their say on the Mayor’s proposals.”

Angela Rayner, Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, also welcomed the proposals.

She said: “We all know someone who has been affected by the acute and entrenched housing crisis we’ve inherited, and the picture in London is as stark as anywhere. A whole generation of Londoners will be able to tell you of the horror stories they’ve faced while trying to find a suitable home in our capital.

“We cannot end the housing crisis and build the 1.5 million homes we need without London being ambitious in its approach. That’s why the government welcomes the bold proposal announced by the Mayor, which rises to the challenge of tackling London’s housing crisis. The Mayor of London has our backing to deliver the housing this city needs, in line with our ambition nationally, to unlock the dream of a secure home for a generation.”

Attempt to hide his failures

However, City Hall Conservatives claim the London Mayor is “hiding his failures” for not building enough affordable homes in the capital.

City Hall Conservatives said on X, formerly Twitter: “Mr Khan had almost £9bn and eight years from the Conservatives to build affordable housing.

“He’s built less than half of what he had to, and so now he’s grabbing the greenbelt in an attempt to hide his failures.”

Londoners can fill out Mr Khan’s Towards a New London Plan public consultation here

Share This Article