21 January 2014
London Mayor Boris Johnson wants to stimulate more self and custom build activity in the capital as part of his plan to construct 42,000 new homes a year for the next two decades.
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He is also keen to encourage small builders and specialist housebuilders – one idea he has suggested is that small builders be charged their Community Infrastructure Levy after completion or the sale of a home, rather than upfront before construction work begins.
The Mayor’s proposals to help self and custom builders are one of 50 policies set out in ‘Homes for London: The London Housing Strategy’. Collectively the policies aim to more than double the supply of well-designed housing.
“There could well be a staggering ten million Londoners by 2030. But while the population boomed, we failed to build enough homes, not just for ten years, but for thirty or more. Through decades of boom and bust, across economic cycles and under every shade of government it was the same story. We just did not build enough homes,” says Mr Johnson.
“Which leaves London facing the epic challenge of building more than 42,000 new homes a year, every year, for twenty years. A level of house building unseen in our great city since the 1930s.”
The document is available to view on the website of the Greater London Authority. Members of the public can post their views on the draft housing strategy until 17 February.
