Slow building not lack of land to blame for housing shortage (Greenwich Borough Liberal Democrats)

Greenwich Borough Liberal Democrats <mail@greenwich-libdems.org.uk>

Slow building not lack of land to blame for housing shortage

April 22, 2007 11:51 PM

Planning developers across London are holding on to land once planning permission has been granted in order to force up property values, according to a report by the Mayor of London's office.

There are almost 89,000 homes in London which could be built as planning permission has already been granted. But developers have not yet done so. Nearly 11,000 of these are in Labour-run Greenwich. By contrast Lib Dem-run Richmond and Sutton councils have 991 and 984 respectively.

Cllr Brian Woodcraft, Leader of the Lib Dem group on Greenwich council comments:

"By limiting and delaying the number of new homes built, they are pricing local people out of the housing market.

"The report also demonstrates that there is already sufficient land in the borough which has been identified for housing. Further building on green spaces is not necessary.

"Greenwich council needs to be more proactive about reducing the delay between granting planning permission and developing housing sites."