Sadiq Khan blasts Boris over affordable homes

Sadiq Khan highlighted figures that showed a dramatic slump in affordable homes
Glenn Copus
Pippa Crerar27 April 2016

Sadiq Khan turned his guns on Boris Johnson today as official figures showed the Mayor had overseen a dramatic slump in affordable homes.

The City Hall data showed that only 4,881 new affordable homes were built in the past year — a 75 per cent drop from the 17,875 delivered the year before.

Labour said the figures meant affordable home-building was now at its lowest level since Mr Johnson took over in 2008.

The Mayor’s Office said that it was normal for construction to trail off at the end of a four-year funding programme and a new national programme would avoid sharp dips in future.

But Labour claimed the figures cast doubt on Mr Johnson’s claims he was on course to meet his pledge of 100,000 affordable homes after two terms in office — falling short by almost 6,000 homes.

Tory heartland boroughs Bromley, Hillingdon and Barnet are among those where the fewest number of affordable homes are being built.

Mr Khan said: “These figures give a damning verdict on Boris Johnson’s record on affordable housing — and we would see the same failure under Zac Goldsmith. A whole generation of young people is being priced out of the housing market.”

Mr Johnson promised 100,000 affordable homes between 2008 and 2016 but delivered only 94,001, according to the City Hall figures. He also promised 55,000 from April 2011 to March last year but managed only 51,455.

City Hall said the figures only related to programmes the Mayor was responsible for, excluding homes delivered directly by boroughs, and insisted he had hit his target.

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