Sadiq Khan’s bid to begin work on 14,000 new affordable homes for Londoners this year has been dealt a blow by figures suggesting fewer than a fifth were started in the first six months.
Work started on only 2,400 new affordable homes between April and September this financial year, according to London Assembly statistics.
The Mayor’s target is to begin at least 14,000 this year, with at least 17,000 next year and 116,000 in total by 2022. He has £4.82 billion from the Government to do it.
The Green Party’s Sian Berry, who chairs the assembly’s housing committee, said he “is letting down Londoners.”
Communities Secretary James Brokenshire has threatened to intervene “unless we see a step change in housing delivery across London”.
Last year 12,555 affordable homes were started, just above the target of 12,500. A spokeswoman for Mr Khan called the assembly report “nonsense” and said he “is building a record number of social and affordable homes.”
Last month, he agreed £1 billion plans for 11,000 new council homes in four years. His winter rough sleeping campaign unveiled today has contactless donation points to give money to homeless charities.
