Sadiq Khan blasts Tory housebuilding 'hot air' with London approvals on rise

25 November 2023 , 19:59

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London Mayor Sadiq Khan said Tory ministers are more interested in "hot air than homes" (Image: Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)

Sadiq Khan blasted the government’s “hot air” on housebuilding last night, after official figures showed London was leading on approving planning applications.

New analysis released today reveals that new home approvals are up 8% in London since 2016 while they are down 14% in the rest of England.

Within London, Labour controlled boroughs are delivering 50% more homes on average than Conservative council areas.

Data compiled for the Home Builders Federation reveals that in the year to Q2 2023, 58,279 homes were approved by the planning system in London, more than the capital’s housing target and up 8% compared to the same point in 2016, when Mr Khan was elected.

Mr Khan said: “When it comes to housing, Tory Ministers are more interested in delivering hot air than homes. The Tories can’t deflect from their own failure on housing. They’ve scrapped their own targets after failing to meet them and missed their affordable homes target too.

London flat for rent for £1,400 a month with bed tucked away in kitchen cupboard

“In London we’ve done things differently, and the facts speak for themselves. Backed by our strong planning approach, the number of new homes has increased significantly and at the same time we’ve hit our Government-set affordable housing target because of my laser focus on the council and genuinely affordable homes that Londoners need most."

Mikey Smith