Slow progress of Sadiq Khan's affordable homes programme is 'catastrophic', says senior Tory

The mayor’s bureau blamed the programme’s sluggish advancement connected “the disastrous bequest of the erstwhile Government”, adding that Sir Sadiq is “determined to turbocharge the transportation of housing”.

According to the latest data, operation started connected lone 902 caller affordable homes - nether the mayor’s programme and crossed the full of Greater London - betwixt October and December of past year.

While the fig is up somewhat from the erstwhile 2 quarters, some of which saw less than 200 affordable spot starts, it inactive leaves Sir Sadiq a sizeable region from reaching his target.

The bulk of backing for the mayor’s existent programme was handed down by the past Conservative Government. They gave him £4bn to get started connected astatine slightest 35,000 affordable properties by March 2026.

The people was aboriginal revised downwards to a scope of betwixt 23,900 and 27,100 homes. The programme’s backing has besides since been topped up with £100m successful Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Budget past year, and present with the further £60m - meaning that the full London cookware amounts to £4.16bn.

However, conscionable 3,026 homes person started operation successful total, meaning that the politician is lone 13 per cent of the mode towards hitting the little extremity of the reduced people - having present utilized up much than fractional the clip disposable since backing for the programme was signed disconnected by the Government successful July 2023.

In a station connected X (formerly Twitter), Mr Hollinrake said the “catastrophic” complaint of advancement demonstrated that Sir Sadiq is “not acceptable for purpose” arsenic mayor.

Robert Colvile, manager of the Centre for Policy Studies deliberation vessel and an writer of the 2019 Tory manifesto, said: “His archetypal statement for failing to physique successful 2024 was that helium hadn't got the money from cardinal Government. Then helium got the money, and started claiming helium needed much money.

“But astatine immoderate point, nonaccomplishment to physique is conscionable nonaccomplishment to build. And helium is perfectly failing to build.”

Approached for comment, a spokeswoman for the politician said: “The disastrous bequest of the erstwhile Government has meant a slump successful housebuilding crossed the country, but determination are invited greenish shoots of betterment successful these figures, with an summation successful City Hall-backed affordable housing starts and completions compared to past year.

“Since being elected, Sadiq is arrogant to person delivered record-breaking genuinely affordable homebuilding, including backing London’s boroughs to commencement much caller assembly homes than astatine immoderate clip since the 1970s. The effect of this occurrence is that, adjacent successful these pugnacious times, affordable lodging completions are 50 per cent higher successful conscionable the archetypal 9 months of this twelvemonth than what the erstwhile politician delivered during his full past twelvemonth successful office.

“The politician is determined to turbocharge the transportation of lodging successful London, and volition proceed to enactment successful concern with ministers to tackle the challenges near by the past Government, helping to physique a amended and fairer London for all.”