Housing in London – the Mayor’s new role Alan Benson - GLA

Overview The strategic drivers Housing need and supply The devolution of housing powers Towards the Mayor’s Housing Strategy

The strategic drivers

The case for London London’s economy drives Britain’s economy - is not in competition with it Housing is a threat to London’s economic growth and social wellbeing Need to increase supply and improve quality Need for investment in infrastructure to maximise major opportunities

London’s demography

New home building

3+ bed new homes 1991/22003/4 London 26%19% South East 49%58% South West49%63% East50%69% West Mids59%63% East Mids 64%76% Yorks+H67%65% North West71%70% North East75%79%

Homelessness

Overcrowding

Affordability ratios

Income inequality

Climate change

Housing need and supply

Housing need Need 35,400 new homes per annum 66% should be affordable Social housing 42% of new social should be 4 bed plus Market 34% of new market should be 3 bed plus Intermediate little demonstrable “need” – requires policy steer

London’s housing capacity

The London Plan  London Plan targets 30,500 homes 50% affordable (70/30 social:intermediate) 100% lifetime, 10% wheelchair accessible  London Plan delivery of new homes : 17, /6: 24,000 (new) 28,000 (total)  Affordable homes : 6, /6: 8,000 (new) 12,000 (total)  But concerns over mix and size

Residential land prices Source: VOA

The planning pipeline

Residential construction Ownership of land with residential planning permission by number of schemes with private units

Devolution of housing powers

The road to housing devolution Feb 2003: Communities Plan Introduced regional housing strategies Set up Regional Housing Boards Jun 2003: LHB set up and first London Housing Strategy published Mar 2004: HMT Barker Review - recommends merging regional housing and planning Nov 2006: GLA Bill - Review of Mayor’s powers Oct 2007?: New powers commence

Review of Powers - other areas Planning Power to ensure local development plans are in compliance with London Plan Positive powers on strategic planning applications Other strategies Adult skills strategy Energy and climate change strategy Health inequalities strategy

New housing powers The responsibilities of the London Housing Board will transfer to the Mayor Mayor will publish a statutory Housing Strategy and Strategic Housing Investment Plan Mayor will decide the broad distribution of the affordable housing part of the Regional Housing Pot

Strategic powers Local housing strategies will be required to be in general conformity, includes: “any strategy [or] other statement of the local housing authority’s policies or proposals related to housing” Implementation model is existing statutory strategies not London Plan Need to clarify “reach” Need to consider sub-regional position

Investment powers – the RHP (1) Apportioning the overall pot £2,300mThe Mayor will have the same powers as the LHB (2a) The council decent homes programme £420mThe Mayor will not be involved (2b) The HC affordable housing programme £1760mThe Mayor will make decisions on the broad allocation (2c) Other funding: estate regen, private sector renewal etc) £120mThe Mayor will have the same powers as the LHB (Based on 2006/8 figs)

Strategic Housing Investment Plan Drawn up and agreed by all key agencies - (GLA, LDA, HC, EP, TfL, LTG DC, GOL, LCs) Ambitious aims: Cover all housing related investment Set out common priorities Align the activities of public sector investors Maximise private sector leverage Co-ordinate housing and infrastructure investment Framework for innovative delivery models

Timetable Nov Queen’s Speech Nov “Towards the Mayor’s Housing Strategy” Feb Consultation on this closes May GLA Bill gets Royal Assent Jun Draft (non-statutory) Housing Strategy Jul Strategic Housing Investment Plan Aug Comprehensive Spending Review Oct GLA Bill commencement 2007/08 - Statutory consultation on Housing Strategy and Strategic Investment Plan

Housing structures Strategy Renewed Mayor’s Housing Forum Sub-groups to engage wider specialists Equalities Standing Group Investment Housing Investment Panel Developer engagement Scrutiny - London Assembly

Towards the Mayor’s Housing Strategy

Key issues for new strategy Putting people first delivering housing’s enabling role Building more homes tackling the barriers to delivery The right homes in the right places shifting the mix – spatial/tenure/size Creating places where people want to live design led development

Key issues for new strategy Reviewing intermediate housing is it giving us what we want? Promoting choice and mobility better matching need and demand Tackling climate change top priority for change Other issues list is not exhaustive