London mayor welcomes government support on housing

The age of these policies means they were often at serious odds with the mayor's London Plan policies, and in particular the Mayor's policy that 50 per cent of new housing should be affordable for low income Londoners. The secretary of State has consistently rejected councils' requests where they would have resulted in unacceptably low affordable housing targets.

Some boroughs also asked to save policies that failed to support wheelchair-accessible housing and the move towards low-carbon homes.  These requests were also rejected.

The mayor of London, Ken Livingstone said:
"It would have been a disastrous move to allow some of these old plans to remain. It would have been equally crazy to ditch perfectly good policies that have proven their worth in providing much-needed affordable homes.

"The London Plan has been subject to extensive consultation and scrutiny - including an independent Examination in Public - which showed that the 50 per cent target is achievable and vital if we are to meet the needs of Londoners.

"This isn't an esoteric point of planning policy, it's a crucial issue affecting the lives of people in real need. That's why I opposed councils' requests to save bad policies or abandon good ones, and that's why I congratulate the Government on these crucial decisions."

Ken Livingstone particularly welcomed the secretary of State’s direction for Hammersmith and Fulham Council to save its policy setting a target of 65 per cent affordable housing, despite the Council's request that it be dropped.  In August, the mayor opposed the Council’s plans to reduce its affordable housing target from sixty five per cent to only forty per cent.