Responding to the Deputy Prime Minister’s announcement on reforming the National Planning Policy Framework, London boroughs have reiterated their strong support for housing growth.

London Councils welcomed the Deputy Prime Minister’s declaration that councils will have more freedom over how they use the money raised from Right to Buy council house sales. Boroughs have called for fewer restrictions on the use of these sales receipts, arguing that they undermine boroughs’ ability to invest locally in replacement homes and that too much funding is redirected to the Treasury.

London Councils’ Executive Member for Planning & Skills, Cllr Peter Mason, said:  “There is no doubt that more homes are urgently needed in London and indeed around the country. Boroughs are strongly pro-housing growth and welcome the government’s focus on boosting housebuilding – including affordable homes and social housing.

“New flexibilities over how we use Right to Buy sales receipts are a big step in the right direction. Reducing restrictions will help ensure more money raised from council house sales is better invested locally in building replacement homes.

“London boroughs have a good record in granting planning permission, but construction of new homes has seriously stalled in the capital and we’re keen to work with the government in addressing this. As well as improving the planning system, we also need action on the other major factors undermining housebuilding – including the lack of local infrastructure, construction skills shortages, and insufficient long-term funding for affordable homes.”

London faces the most severe housing pressures in the country. London Councils estimates one in 50 Londoners is currently homeless and there are more than 320,000 households are on waiting lists for social housing in the capital.

London Councils has published its latest data on consumption-based emissions (CBEs) for London, which provides boroughs with insights for the emissions from the consumption of goods and services.

The data, commissioned in partnership with ReLondon and the Greater London Authority, has been produced by Leeds University. It outlines the importance of addressing CBEs in order to meet the climate targets set by the Mayor of London and the boroughs.

You can find more information, including: What consumption-based emissions (CBE) are; Why boroughs should tackle CBE and the co-benefits they can expect; How CBE have evolved in the past 20 years and a summary of the largest sources of CBE in London, alongside examples of actions London boroughs can take to tackle CBE and where they can find support, on London Councils' website here.

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