Mon 30 Jun 2008
Housebuilders need to build communities not just homes
Housebuilders’ ultimate objective should be to create communities that are sustainable and desirable for people to reside, rather than just focus on erecting residential developments, particularly in the Capital, according to Deputy Mayor of London, Richard Barnes.Cllr Barnes (pictured) told Showhouse.co.uk: “Far too many developers are under pressure to meet government housebuilding targets, which is culminating in the construction of a lot of residential units that simply lack a sense of community.
“Take the homes being built around the new Olympic site for example. Many are being constructed with September 2012 [the month the Games will take place] in mind, rather than 2030.
“What we need are communities that are sustainable, which offer a balance of commercial space and facilities, good transport links, as well as homes for people to live in, much like the Beaufort Park scheme in Colindale [residential-led mixed-use project in NW9] which is being built by St George.”
Barnes also stated that housebuilders in the capital should be free to satisfy “genuine” housing demand, rather than just build aimless homes, for the sake of satisfying “unrealistic” housebuilding targets, some set by former Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone.
Barnes added: “Ken Livingstone’s targets were ridiculous and unachievable. There is a clear shortage of family dwellings in London, and an oversupply of studios and one-bedroom apartments. Yet housebuilders have not been able to focus on building homes, of which there is a genuine shortage, such as large houses, but have instead had to focus on satisfying unrealistic housebuilding targets, by whipping up tiny flats.”
In a scathing attack on Livingstone, Barnes continued: “His [Livingstone’s] 50% affordable housing prerequisite was particularly unachievable and should never have been introduced. It did nothing but stifle housebuilders in the capital. I believe that it’s about delivering a certain number of affordable housing, not percentages.
“Ken’s views belong in the past, while we [the Tory administration] are the future. I for one am delighted that Livingstone was voted out of office. I have no sympathy for the man.”
However, when challenged about the risk posed to the future construction of tens of thousands of homes across the capital, as a consequence of the gasholder issue, Barnes admitted that he was not familiar with the problem. This is despite the fact that Ken Livingstone had avidly campaigned to overturn the gasholder legislation.
A number of developments have already been delayed, with many more set to be postponed, as a consequence of the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) new risk assessments for planning applications surrounding hazardous installations, primarily gasometers.
Cllr Barnes has vowed to research the issue and “talk to Boris [London Mayor, Johnson]” to see if action is needed.”
Ends
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