City Hall housing targets criticised for favouring flats over family homes
An Assembly Member's report argues current targets incentivise small properties, potentially driving families out of London.
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London's housing targets are inadvertently encouraging developers to build too many small flats and not enough family-sized homes, a senior Conservative Assembly Member has warned. Andrew Boff, author of the report 'Uncrowded Houses', stated that the current focus on the quantity of housing units, rather than the number of bedrooms, is leading to an oversupply of studios and one or two-bedroom properties.
Incentivising small units
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Mr Boff argued that City Hall's government-set target of building 88,000 homes each year has prompted Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to prioritise speed of construction over the actual need for family accommodation. This approach, he claims, is contributing to high-rise developments that do not meet the needs of Londoners. The report highlights that between 2016 and 2025, only three percent of homes built through the Affordable Homes Programme had four or more bedrooms. In contrast, 78 percent were studios, or one or two-bedroom properties.
The London Assembly Housing Committee's accompanying report suggested that developers are not receiving sufficient grants to motivate the construction of larger homes. It recommended reforms, including a 'variable grant model' that could allocate funding per bedroom or per person housed, instead of per unit. Other suggestions include better management of existing housing stock and incentivising those with spare bedrooms to downsize.
Mr Boff stated that the lack of larger homes creates a bottleneck in the housing market, intensifying overcrowding. He noted that the London-wide Strategic Housing Market Assessment found 16.8 percent of families with children are overcrowded, indicating an acute need for more affordable, larger homes. The draft London Plan, currently under public consultation, acknowledges that family-sized housing is in greater demand within affordable tenures.
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Concerns have also been raised that families are being priced out of the capital. A report from the London Assembly's economy, culture and skills committee found that the number of children living in London has declined faster than in any other UK region since the early 2010s. This trend has been attributed to significant financial and practical barriers, including the cost of childcare and housing.
Mayor's response
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London stated that tackling the housing crisis is a top priority and that City Hall is working with various partners to deliver more homes. They added that the draft new London Plan aims to provide a range of different-sized homes to meet residents' needs and will continue to protect green spaces.
What happens next
The draft London Plan is currently undergoing public consultation. Residents can provide feedback on the proposed policies and targets during this period.
Questions this report answers
+Why are developers building too many small flats in London?
City Hall's target of building 88,000 homes annually incentivises developers to focus on quantity over quality, leading to a preference for constructing one and two-bedroom properties. This is because smaller units can be built more quickly and in greater numbers to meet the overall unit target.
+How many family-sized homes are being built in London?
Between 2016 and 2025, only three percent of homes built under the Affordable Homes Programme had four or more bedrooms. The vast majority, 78 percent, were studios or one or two-bedroom properties, indicating a significant shortfall in family-sized accommodation.
+What is the impact of the current housing strategy on families?
The lack of larger family homes is contributing to overcrowding, with 16.8 percent of families with children experiencing this issue. It is also suggested that housing costs and availability are major factors driving families to leave London altogether.
+What changes are being proposed to address the housing issue?
A report recommends reforming the grant system to a 'variable grant model' that allocates funds per bedroom or person, rather than per unit. Other suggestions include better management of existing housing stock and incentivising people with extra bedrooms to downsize.
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