Stats show record-breaking council housebuilding in London

Council housebuilding in London has reached record-breaking figures this year, as statistics show work has begun on 4,946 council homes in the 2021/22 financial year.

Before Sadiq Khan became Mayor of London in 2016, only 3,520 council homes were started on within 10 years.

Overall, 18,722 affordable homes, including council homes, have had work begin on London sites over this year, a groundbreaking figure. 

The Mayor has introduced several programmes to provide homes for poorer citizens, such as grants provided through the Building Council Homes for Londoners scheme and funding for boroughs through the Homebuilding Capacity Fund.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: ‘There’s no quick fix to London’s housing crisis, but we’re taking some big steps in the right direction – breathing new life into council homebuilding in London. Every new home we build is another London family given the secure, long term home they deserve.

‘I grew up on a council estate in south London so I know the vital role council homes play in providing security for families. I’m proud that we’re reversing the years of declining council homebuilding and are once again seeing these vital homes return to every corner of our city.

‘But I’m determined that we continue to do all we can to build on the success of recent years, empower councils and work with all those involved in building new council homes, so we build a safer, fairer, greener and more prosperous city for all Londoners.’

Council housebuilding hasn’t reached this scale since the 1970’s, when construction began on 9,128 council houses in 1979.

Nearly every London council, except two, had work start on City-Hall funded council homes, with Southwark coming out on top with 878 starts.

Bromley, Hammersmith, Fulham, Kingston upon Thames and Sutton all began building council homes for first time last year.

The Mayor’s 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme also ensures all new council houses are built to environmental standards, with developments of more than 10 homes required to be net-zero and incorporate urban green spaces.

The statistics only cover City-Hall funded council homes, so the overall total is expected to rise when central government figures are released later this year.

In related news, new research suggests most social housing tenants don’t realise the impact their homes have on the climate crisis, according to housing association Sovereign Housing.

Photo by Imran