It would take 40 years to build just half of the homes needed in London even if all of the extra homes demanded by the Barker Report are built, the capital's councils have warned.
The claim was made in a briefing paper sent to members on Tuesday last week by the Association of London Government.

The 33 boroughs have 60,000 households in temporary accommodation – two-thirds of the national total – and another 60,000 severely overcrowded households.

Economist Kate Barker's Treasury-backed report recommended that 6000 extra homes be built every year to meet existing need. The ALG has calculated that there would only be an extra 1500 homes built each year in London; over 40 years, this adds up to 60,000 homes.

In its summary of the Barker Report, the ALG said these figures strengthened the case for London councils to be the main beneficiaries of the Treasury's promise to boost social housing spending in July's spending review.

The ALG paper said: "London has a strong case for over half of the national total of new social homes from any extra investment."

London already receives a quarter of central funding for social housing, according to the ALG.

Source

Housing Today