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Boris pledges 'first-time homes for Bridget Jones'
Mira Bar-Hillel, Planning Correspondent21.11.07
Mayoral contender Boris Johnson today attacked Ken Livingstone's flagship affordable homes policy, saying he would relax the mayor's 50 per cent target to get more homes built.
In his first major policy speech as a candidate, Mr Johnson said more homes are needed because the size of the average household is shrinking.
Speaking to the National House-Building Council (NHBC), he said: "Over a quarter of London's first time buyers are now single women, up from only 15 per cent in the 1980s. Bridget Jones wants a place of her own."
He added that longer life expectancy means that "we are not just talking about granny flats; we are talking about great granny flats. London's housing crisis is one of the biggest deterrents to talent and one of the biggest causes of unhappiness."
But the solution lay in working with London boroughs, "not bullying them, and not getting hung up on percentages of affordable accommodation", he added.
He highlighted Hammersmith and Fulham, recently vilified by the Mayor. "They have actually built so many more houses than expected that they will more than break their target for new affordable homes even if the percentage is less than 50 per cent," he said.
He noted that Wandsworth's "Hidden Homes" policy, creating new homes to rent in existing council estates, "has led to the construction of more council properties than any other council in London" - but has also been snubbed.
"I will be willing to ease those quotas - but only in order to encourage development. Because, in the words of one councillor, 50 per cent of bugger-all is still bugger-all," he said.
He also promised to protect London's traditional and historic buildings and streets from bulldozers and skyscrapers.
Mr Johnson said he would assure Londoners that "their gardens, their views, their neighbourhoods are not going to be dwarfed by high rise blocks or engulfed in a sea of identikit homes.
"What the average Londoner wants is a house with a garden and a front door. But when I look at some of the plans for the 27 phallocratic towers that Ken wants to erect in the suburbs, I wonder whether we have learned anything from the experience of the last 50 years.
"So why is the last Victorian terrace in the Isle of Dogs being torn down to be replaced by a high-rise?
"We seem to be in the grip of barbarians who are determined to knock down venerable buildings - Victorian police stations and swimming baths - and put drab blocks in their place.
"You can have more houses without wrecking the garden city of London."
Meanwhile the Mayor, on tour in India, published new figures showing that 4,686 new homes for shared ownership were completed in 2006/7, the highest ever figure.
Mr Livingstone defended his 50 per cent "affordable" target.
"My tougher targets are helping to make many more lower income Londoners homeowners." he said.
"Giving up the 50 per cent target would mean fewer homes for affordable shared ownership and renting."
Reader views (5)
'How about moving the long term unemployed living in council accommodation out of London and then renting it to someone who is productive and contributes to the economy?'
What has the rest of the country done to deserve your dross? or does the rest of the country not count as far as 'the economy' goes?
As it appears that only London contributes to 'the economy', I (and the other million people here) shall stop contributing forthwith.
- Clare, Birmingham, UK
Marc is absolutely right. Let's blow this myth that low income families can afford shared ownership properties. They can't. Anyone on a single income knows this. With kids you need a 2-bed place and this pushes the boundary even further.
The part ownership first time buyer flats are going to double income couples usually minus the kids.
I should know, I'm still without a house after 5 years and I work full time and earn a reasonable salary.
These houses are being built to reach targets. The lowest income families or those with one salary are still where they were 5 years ago.
Ken's magical Kingdom needs to stay in Fairyland.
Boris for Mayor.
- Sally Eason, London
So let me get this straight. Boris' idea to increase the availability of affordable housing is... let developers stop building affordable housing?
We're through the Johnson looking glass yet again.
- Michael Mcnab, Brixton, London, UK
How about moving the long term unemployed living in council accomodation out of London and then renting it to someone who is productive and contributes to the economy?
- Trevor Roll, London
It seems to me that new-build housing goes either to nurses, council staff who approved the scheme or millionaires. No-one in the middle income bracket gets a look-in.
Nor do other low-income people who's only crime is to not be considered worthy enough to get "key worker status".
The government is finding it impossible to sell the chicken-box studio flats on part-ownership because people don't want to buy them. They do want something that resembles a family house.
Boris is right but faces the age-old problem of where to build proper houses...
- Marc, London
