The Housing Committee discussed the Draft London Plan 2026, focusing on housing targets, affordable housing delivery, and the crucial role of infrastructure. Key decisions included a commitment to a targeted approach for Green Belt development, prioritising brownfield sites, and a recognition of the need for greater flexibility in affordable housing targets to stimulate development.

Housing Targets and Delivery

The committee examined the realism of the housing targets set out in the Draft London Plan 2026. Councillor Stephen Cowan, Leader of Hammersmith and Fulham Council and Chair of London Councils, acknowledged the difficulty in setting targets but stressed their essential nature. He highlighted challenges in the housing sector, including affordability, viability, and regulatory hurdles, and called for Government action to stimulate house-building growth. Jason Perry, Mayor of Croydon, agreed on the need for flexibility and expressed concerns about the imposition of Green Belt development targets in Croydon, arguing that brownfield sites should be prioritised. Liam Shrivastava, Mayor of Lewisham, stated that targets are realistic only if boroughs are given the necessary tools, such as infrastructure investment, and expressed scepticism about the tiered location banding system for affordable housing targets.

Affordable Housing Thresholds and Tenures

A significant portion of the discussion revolved around affordable housing, particularly the breakdown of tenures and the flexibility of targets. Jason Perry argued for a borough-led approach to determining affordable housing tenures, stating that Croydon would prefer a 70:30 split in favour of social rent, rather than the proposed 60:40. He also advocated for greater flexibility in viability assessments to allow for more affordable housing to be secured. Liam Shrivastava echoed the need for more social rent homes, emphasizing the importance of community response to developments and the need for minimum expectations around social rent. He also voiced concerns about shared ownership, describing it as not truly affordable and akin to a leasehold crisis.

Councillor Stephen Cowan highlighted the historical context of reduced social housing stock and the current affordability crisis, suggesting that while targets are important, the focus should be on stimulating the market and addressing supply-side and demand-side problems. He advocated for respecting borough sovereignty in setting affordable housing targets.

Infrastructure and Transport

The importance of infrastructure, particularly transport, was a recurring theme. Jason Perry advocated for an infrastructure-first approach, arguing that development should follow infrastructure investment, not the other way around, to avoid creating cut-off communities. Councillor Stephen Cowan agreed on the need for infrastructure to go hand-in-hand with house building, but suggested that it could happen concurrently rather than strictly sequentially. He also highlighted the disparity in transport links across London, particularly south of the river, and the need for better connectivity. Liam Shrivastava stressed the need for other forms of infrastructure, such as doctors' surgeries and pharmacies, and questioned the minimum requirements for transport connectivity in new developments.

Green Belt Development

Jason Perry strongly objected to the proposed Green Belt development in Croydon, arguing that it was unjustified and that the borough could meet its housing targets on brownfield sites. He emphasised the irreversible nature of Green Belt loss and the importance of protecting it. Jules Pipe CBE and Lucinda Turner explained that the Green Belt targets were a result of the need to maximise housing numbers, as brownfield capacity is finite. They stressed that the approach was targeted, driven by public transport accessibility and critical mass, and not a free-for-all. They assured that no designated public open spaces, including parks, were included in the proposals.

Housing Size Mix

The committee also discussed the proposed housing size mix in the Draft London Plan. While the SHMA indicates a higher need for one and two-bedroom homes, panellists highlighted the significant demand for family-sized homes (three bedrooms and above). Councillor Stephen Cowan noted that while the technical need for larger homes might be lower, the urgency and visibility of this need are higher. Liam Shrivastava expressed concern that the focus on smaller units could exacerbate affordability issues and lead to families moving out of London. The panel acknowledged the complexity of balancing different housing needs and the role of funding in delivering larger affordable homes.

The meeting also touched upon the impact of global events on development costs, the limitations of the viability model, and the need for greater flexibility in planning legislation. The committee was also informed about the Mayor's Homes Off the Streets programme, aimed at providing accommodation for former rough sleepers.