Leading figures from homebuilding, property industries and housing associations have urged the government to give its firm backing to Crossrail 2 and provide a key boost in tackling London’s housing crisis.
Building on the economic case outlined by senior business figures last week, 66 homebuilding and property industry leaders, including Taylor Wimpey, British Land and all of the g15, London’s largest housing associations, have written to the Chancellor, Transport Secretary and Communities Secretary to show how vital Crossrail 2 is to unlock new, good-quality homes and commercial space.
The industry leaders say the new railway would transform transport capacity and connectivity for underdeveloped areas of the capital, such as the Upper Lea Valley. This will give housebuilders the certainty they need to accelerate the development of up to 200,000 new homes urgently needed to help address the housing shortage across London and the South East.
“Crossrail 2 is a fantastic opportunity to improve London and the South East’s infrastructure, and will help us build the homes this region desperately needs,” said Tony Pidgley CBE, Chairman, Berkeley Group. “It will unlock areas of huge potential, such as the Upper Lea Valley, and we will look to these areas to meet the demand for housing. Crossrail 2 is the only scheme that can make a significant difference to the South East’s housing stock and the Government must not delay.”
The benefits will be felt right across the South East with 30 per cent of the new homes delivered outside London, supporting regional growth corridors between Cambridge and Stansted, and south west towards Portsmouth.
The signatories urge the government to give the green light to the scheme without delay, so they can seize the opportunities to develop housing and commercial space in areas opened up by improved transport capacity.
“Crossrail 2 will stimulate regeneration up and down its route from the Solent to the Wash, opening sites for new housing and employment,” said Melanie Leech, Chief Executive of the British Property Federation. “A swift decision from Government on Crossrail 2 would provide a vote of confidence for our industry as we support most, if not all, UK economic activity, through our provision of homes, offices and commercial space.”
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said, “It’s no secret that London and the South East need new homes, and the government can clearly show its long-term commitment to tackling the housing crisis by backing Crossrail 2. Key homebuilding and property leaders are clear that this vital project will unlock areas across the region and bring up to 200,000 new homes where they are desperately needed. It’s time for the government to take note of the huge transport, economic and housing benefits, and give us the go ahead to progress.”
Last month, more than 70 business leaders, including at EY, Deloitte, Aviva Group, Gatwick Airport, Heathrow Airport, Canary Wharf Group, FSB Surrey & West Sussex, and Surrey, Essex, Hertfordshire, Hampshire, and Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce, hailed the infrastructure project as being of national importance. It will support 200,000 jobs, and generate 60,000 supply chain jobs across the UK, including 18,000 apprentices, boosting the national economy by economy by up to £150bn.
London has already committed to meeting half the cost – unlike other nationally significant projects that do not receive such levels of local funding. But now the project needs a commitment from ministers.
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