Mayor's empty words for vacant homes - Doocey

5.37.00pm GMT Thu 7th Feb 2008

Rather than 'getting to grips with London's Housing Crisis', the Mayor is on track to fail London housing targets by 23,930 homes in eight years time.

The Greater London Authority estimates that 354,000 new homes are required to house Londoners by 2016. However, in his London Plan, the Mayor set a target of only 31,600 additional homes to be provided each year, for the next ten years. This equates to a planned shortfall of 38,000 homes.

Housing Spokesperson for the London Assembly Liberal Democrats, Dee Doocey said:

"The Mayor is playing it safe with his targets. The housing needs of the capital will not be met by 2016 at this rate.

"The Mayor should be concentrating on bringing empty homes back into use. Last year, only 3% of vacant homes were re-occupied.

"Furthermore, only 34% of his new homes can be classed as affordable housing, meaning the Mayor failed his own target by over 6500 homes.

"The Mayor cannot boast of success for London housing when he is failing to meet the needs of Londoners and his own targets.

"But like many of his homes, the Mayor's promises are empty."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1. The 2004 GLA Housing Requirement Study stated that 354,000 new homes were required over ten years to house Londoners. Under the London Plan targets, the Mayor will only provide 316,000 homes.

2. There are approximately 91,000 empty homes in the capital and only 695 empty homes were brought back into use last year. This equates to less than 3%.

3. Only 34% (9,209) of the net new-build homes were affordable, which falls short of the 50% target in the London Plan, (which should equate to 15,800 affordable homes a year), so that's a 6,591 shortfall.

4. Use the following link to view the Mayor's press release on new homes:

http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=15572