Capital Letters by JBP provides an insight into the world of London politics and development.
Report calls for more powers for the GLA
A new report has warned that the drive to free up surplus public land for housing developments in London will not succeed unless the government hands Boris Johnson more powers.
Although the report by business group ‘London First’(link is external) and law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner(link is external) lauded the move by Chancellor George Osborne and Mayor of London Boris Johnson to set up a London Land Commission (LLC), it said that the GLA needs to be awarded more power in order for the objectives of the LLC to be met.
It is estimated that “40% of brownfield land suitable for development in the country remains in public sector ownership”, and at present, there is very little incentive for public bodies to sell surplus land for housing.
The report has recommended a number of ways to overcome the hurdles. It says that the GLA should be “given the same access that the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has to e-PIMs, the government’s property and land asset database, so that it can assess surplus government land in London.” It also called for the LLC to “set clear targets, including a rolling yearly target for moving surplus land and assets forward for release, which should be set at around 10%-15% of the land identified.”
With a government target to build 400,000 new homes by 2025, it is crucial that the government and GLA work together to all that they can to capitalise on land that is suitable for development.
London looking to the skies for inspiration
The UK’s capital is set to build its way to the heavens with construction plans for 200 new skyscrapers. With 70 tall buildings already underway, London is experiencing somewhat of a ‘construction boom’ and may soon rival cities such as New York when it comes to tall structures.
Traditionally, skyscrapers have been restricted to The City and Canary Wharf, with many being situated along the banks of the Thames. However, recent planning applications suggest that London hopes to extend the skyscraper reach to Lewisham, Brent and Croydon, with most of the applications being for high-end flats.
A report released in March by New London Architecture and property consultant GL Hearn revealed that a total of 263 buildings higher than 20 storeys are currently in the planning process or already being built. 70 of these are under construction, 117 have been given planning permission and another 76 are awaiting approval. The report claims that the new builds will create a total of 14,800 homes.
With housing high on the agenda as we approach the General Election, the plans to build more high rises have been met with mixed opinion. London has historically been a ‘low-rise’ city, with small amounts of skyscrapers placed strategically around the capital. The upcoming plans will certainly change the face of London for good and critics have suggested that the high-rises will only serve to exacerbate the soaring rents and house prices London residents already face.
Government in planning policy reversal
Government ministers have been forced to reconsider planning policy that would have permitted developers to avoid paying more than £1 billion a year in affordable-housing payments.
The “vacant building credit” was unveiled towards the end of 2014, allowing developers planning to convert a vacant building into flats to only pay an affordable housing contribution on the new space that was created.
Although the policy was originally introduced to encourage housebuilding, it has attracted widespread criticism; Westminster council stated that it could stand to lose “£1 billion a year from its affordable-housing pot” under the controversial plans and many others have expressed concern that the proposed plans would encourage developers to force tenants out of offices to convert them into flats.
Under new planning guidance, council’s will be given the right to reject an applicant unless plans are for the sole purpose of redevelopment.
What are the most important issues for Londoners at the General Election?
Housing is the issue that is dominating the rhetoric in the run up to May 7. The issue does not make the top three on a national level, but it does in London. With the population of London increasing by 100,000 a year, demand is outstripping supply. Londoners are also understandably concerned about the barriers to home ownership.
Politicians are aware that the housing shortage and sky-high prices in the capital are matters that are paramount to city-dwellers. The three main parties have recognised the concerns in their promises to voters. The Conservatives have made housing one of their six national election themes while Labour and the Liberal Democrats have repeated pledges to build new homes at volume.
The economy, the NHS, transport and education are other issues that are positioned at the top of the agenda for London voters. Unsurprisingly, polls show that immigration is of lesser importance in London compared to the country as a whole. In fact the Telegraph recently released a map (link is external) clearly illustrating concerns about immigration are highest in areas where it is least prevalent.
JBP's Mayoral Watch
- Michael Bloomberg has categorically denied rumours that he intends to stand as a Conservative candidate in the mayoral race. After receiving an honorary knighthood from the Queen on 8 April, he insisted that he has 'zero chance’ and ‘zero interest’ in succeeding Boris Johnson as mayor.
- It is possible that 16 and 17 year olds could help decide the outcome of next year’s City Hall elections after Labour leader Ed Miliband confirmed plans to lower the voting age in the Labour manifesto.
- At a hustings in Uxbridge, Boris Johnson said that he still holds out hope for a 'Boris Island' on the Thames Estuary.