Sadiq Khan says the new figures show the “huge progress” made since he became Mayor of London (credit: London Assembly)
Work began on 1,689 new, affordable homes in the borough between April 2020 and March 2021, and 1,275 homes were finished during that same period, according to new figures.
The second-most number of affordable homes were started in Barking and Dagenham, with 1,069 homes started in the last financial year. 498 affordable homes were also built in the borough.
Tower Hamlets saw the third-highest number of affordable homes completed with 762 being built. The borough came sixth with the number of new homes started with work beginning on 816.
Elsewhere, 228 new, affordable homes were started in Waltham Forest and work was completed on 357 new homes in the borough in the last year.
Havering saw work begin on 182 new, affordable homes during the same period, while 209 homes were finished in that time.
Meanwhile, 350 new, affordable homes were started in Redbridge, but the fourth-fewest number of homes were completed in the borough, with just 27 being built.
The new figures show that 13, 318 new, affordable homes were started in London in total during the last year. More than 6,000 of those will be available at social rent levels.
9,051 affordable homes were also completed in the capital during the same period. The number is an increase from the 7,775 homes completed the year before.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “London’s housing crisis remains one of the greatest barriers to addressing the inequality we face in our city, and a key priority for my second term will be doing all we can to overcome it.
“Today’s figures show what councils, housing associations and the wider London housing sector have been able to achieve despite the instability and uncertainty created by Brexit and the pandemic. They also underline the huge progress made since I became Mayor, when just three homes for social rent were left in the pipeline by my predecessor.
“Despite exceeding my annual targets and starting record numbers of affordable homes for Londoners, there is still a mountain to climb – we need to go further, faster.
“I am determined to build on the record-breaking delivery of genuinely-affordable homes in my first term as Mayor to secure a brighter future for our city.”
Helen Evans, chair of G15 and chief executive of Network Homes, said: “The pandemic has highlighted more than ever the importance of good quality affordable homes to people’s health and wellbeing.
“These figures show that housing associations have remained determined to keep delivering the affordable homes Londoners need, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.
“The G15 is proud to have contributed almost six thousand of these new homes last year and we stand ready to continue to support the Mayor’s housebuilding ambitions.”
Councillor Darren Rodwell, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council and London Councils’ Executive Member for Housing & Planning, said: “With London facing the most severe homelessness crisis in the country, boroughs are totally committed to delivering the affordable homes our city needs.
“The trend is going in the right direction – but there can be no complacency. If we’re to continue increasing delivery, we need the government to give us the powers and resources required to boost local housebuilding at mass scale. The government must step up and match London’s housing ambitions.”
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Tags: London, Newham, Havering, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Barking and Dagenham, London Mayor
