Capital Letters by JBP provides an insight into the world of London politics and development.
Budget announcement to help London homes shortage
The Chancellor George Osborne announced in last week’s budget (18 March) that the government will do more to supply new homes in the capital. The Mayor of London will be given more planning powers, and that the newly established London Land Commission will be given more funding to prioritise brownfield land for development.
London has a target of building at least 40,000 new homes every year, and the government has identified development on brownfield sites as the primary way of achieving this.
On the same day as this announcement, the Mayor, Boris Johnson revealed two new housing zones – Waltham Forest and Wembley – which he said would deliver thousands of homes and new commercial and retail space. The total number of housing zone areas now stands at eleven. These areas have relaxed planning powers, thus allowing developers to build more quickly.
Top Tier talent draining away from City Hall?
Victoria Borwick’s recent selection as Conservative parliamentary candidate for Kensington marks the latest attempt by a key figure of London politics to announce their intention to stand at the General Election. The others include Mayor Boris Johnson (Uxbridge), James Cleverly (Braintree), Andrew Dismore (Hendon), and Kit Malthouse (North West Hampshire).
With the extra commitments that electioneering entails, there is a worry that their priorities will be elsewhere in the run-up to the election. Their decisions also raise questions about whether they will remain in their role at the GLA if they are successful in their Westminster bids. The Mayor has publicly committed to serving out his mayoral term which expires in May 2016.
All this uncertainty could represent a year where London’s priorities in City Hall are somewhat overlooked. Labour group leader, Len Duvall, has cottoned onto the drift away from City Hall to Westminster, telling the Evening Standard that Johnson and senior Conservative colleagues are “in full retreat from City Hall” to pursue ambitions elsewhere, and claiming that it increasingly looks as though London will be “left treading water until 2016.”
London’s housing market could undermine City of London's competitiveness
Mark Boleat, Policy Chairman at the City of London Corporation, has warned that London’s housing market is approaching a “crisis point”. Boleat claims that at current levels, the price of housing in London is driving away “the best international talent” and reducing the City of London's competitiveness.
According to Boleat “we must tackle the supply-side problems in our housing market – examining every option and reducing unhelpful planning constraints.” Osborne’s budget may have gone some way in addressing Boleat’s concerns. The Chancellor announced that the London Mayor would now have greater powers than ever before to approve developments on brownfield land. It remains to be seen whether these measures will help London Boroughs meet their housing targets.
JBP's Mayoral Watch
- There have been reports that ex- footballer, Sol Campbell is likely to meet with Boris Johnson in the coming days, fuelling rumours that the ex-football intends to stand as a Tory mayoral candiate.
- At a Question Time debate hosted by The Independent, mayoral hopeful David Lammy called for housing to be built on the greenbelt.
- Boris Johnson's deputy, Victoria Borwick has been selected as the Conservative candidate for the plum seat of Kensington. Following Victoria's decision, Roger Evans has been appointed Deputy Mayor.
- Despite the polls favouring Tessa Jowell, former mayor Ken Livingstone has tipped Sadiq Khan as the victor in the upcoming election.
- Tessa Jowell has called for an increase of £1 in the minimum wage for Londoners.
Read these articles and more on the JBP website.