The London Housing Strategy aims to address the shortage of affordable housing in London through increasing housing supply, supporting working Londoners, and improving housing conditions. It sets targets to increase annual housing construction to 42,000 homes and build 100,000 affordable homes over the Mayor's two terms. The strategy focuses on five priorities: boosting housing supply, better supporting working Londoners, improving private renting, securing long-term funding for housing, and accelerating the pace of construction. It also aims to help the homeless, bring empty homes back into use, and ensure high quality housing standards.

1. London Housing Strategy – a
summary

2. By many measures, London is the greatest city on earth.
It is the UK’s only global city and Europe’s most cosmopolitan capital. Between 1997
to 2012 London’s economy more than doubled in size, growing from £147 billion to
£309 billion.

3. This success has led to
London’s population
growing rapidly, from 6.8
million in 1986 to 8.4
million in 2013 and is now
projected to surpass its
1939 peak of 8.6 million as
early as 2016.
This significant growth,
after decades of falling
population from the 1940s
to the 1980s, is primarily
the natural growth that
results from London’s
relatively youthful
population.

4. But this success has also brought challenges; most notably, the shortfall
of affordable homes.

5. The shortage of housing
pushes up prices and rents
and affects those in most
acute need, whether
homeless or overcrowded.
Low and middle income
households are being hit
hard too. If these essential
workers cannot afford to
live in the capital, it
impacts not just on London
but on the nation’s growth
and competitiveness.

6. The overriding aims of this
strategy are to increase
the supply of housing of all
tenures and to ensure that
these homes better support
London’s continued
economic success.
The strategy is not just
about supply - policies
range from improving the
existing stock to tackling
rough sleeping – but
supply is at the heart of it,
underpinning each of its
five key priorities.
The Mayor of London laid some of the first
bricks for around 600 new homes to be built
on Catford’s former dog track.

7. 1. Increasing housing supply to levels not seen since the 1930s.
Our long-term ambition is to increase supply to at least 42,000 new homes per year,
around double what has been achieved over the last 20 years. 100,000 affordable
homes will be built over the Mayor’s two terms.
Wembley Housing Zone

8. 2. Better supporting working Londoners.
Our strategy increases opportunities for low cost home ownership and does more to
support working Londoners as existing home owners. It also improves their private
rented options and gives them greater priority for affordable homes to rent.

9. 3. Improving the private rented sector.
The London Rental Standard promotes professional standards of management for
landlords and letting agents. We’ve also set a target to increase the supply of new
purpose-built private rented sector housing.

10. 4. A financial settlement for the GLA to lead on housing supply.
London needs a long-term and stable funding settlement for housing that transcends
individual public spending rounds and enables the Mayor, boroughs and housing
providers to plan ahead with certainty.

11. 5. Accelerating the pace of housing construction.
Up to 20 Housing Zones will be launched to maximise the capacity of key sites to
rapidly construct new homes. The Mayor will also promote at least three new “garden
suburbs”, and is working on a London Housing Bank.
Wembley Housing Zone

12. The strategy also looks to
respond better to the
housing needs of older
Londoners, encouraging
the development of more
homes that are attractive
and suitable for older
people.
It will increase the
provision of smaller
affordable homes targeted
at those downsizing,
support purpose-built older
people’s housing and offer
better incentives for older
people to downsize.
A brand new neighbourhood is being created in Barking
Riverside (pictured).

13. The strategy supports
those who are most
disadvantaged by the
housing crisis, the
homeless and rough
sleepers.
The Mayor will work with
boroughs and other
partners to ensure that no
one new to the streets
sleeps rough for a second
night, no one lives on the
streets of London and the
flow of new rough sleepers
is minimised.
Pound Lane
credit: St Mungo’s Broadway

14. We are working to bring London’s empty homes back into use
We will ensure that no more than 1% of homes stand empty and unused for over six
months. Financial incentives to leaving homes empty will also be removed.

15. All new homes should meet
high design standards, and
should be accessible for
people at all stages of their
lives.
Improving the quality and
energy efficiency of existing
homes also remains a key
priority.
To achieve this, the Mayor will
make funding available to
ensure that all boroughs are
able to reach the Decent
Homes standard.
Retrofitting will also be
encouraged.
Climate Energy Homes Passivhaus Development.
The UK's largest all affordable Passivhaus scheme.

16. To provide the land for
development the Mayor will
have an exit strategy for all
GLA landholdings by
2016.
The Mayor will also seek
out new entrants to the
market and long-term
investment.
Development by small and
medium-sized builders and
community-led
organisations will also be
encouraged.

17. Read the London Housing
Strategy in full at
london.gov.uk