Is Boris Johnson the best London Mayor for housing?
With just a few days to go until the London Mayoral elections on May 1, Show House news editor Marc Da-Silva takes a look at how the main candidates propose to overcome the capital’s housing deficit. Today we take a look at… Boris Johnson (Conservative)
In the blue corner it’s Alexander Boris De Pfeffel Johnson, aka the blonde bombshell. He has pledged "a fresh approach" to create "varied and vibrant communities" in his Housing and Planning Manifesto.
Johnson has vowed to construct 50,000 more affordable homes in London by 2011 and renovate just over 84,000 vacant properties to assist low-income Londoners off waiting lists. However, he aims to abandon Ken Livingstone’s 50% affordable housing target.
He has also promised to help first-time buyers and low-paid Londoners frozen out of existing government schemes by releasing GLA-owned land for new housing, and to increase shared ownership schemes by a third.
Johnson also wants to introduce tougher new planning regulations to prevent development on the green belt and gardens, encourage small shops and protect views of historic buildings.
Boris Johnson commented: "If we are to improve the quality of life for all Londoners then we must do something about the impact housing has on the rising cost of living. Affordable housing must be more than 'decent'; it must be desirable.
"Furthermore, I will protect London's green belt, and help regenerate the suburbs by publishing a separate strategy on how to encourage sustainable economic growth in outer London.
"If elected as Mayor I will be committed to working in partnership with the boroughs to build a better London - and to leave a lasting legacy for future generations of Londoners."
What action would take on housing if you were mayor?
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