In a bold move to tackle London’s housing crisis, Mayor Sadiq Khan is set to announce plans to ‘actively explore’ the possibility of building homes on parts of the city’s green belt. This new strategy seeks to alleviate the housing shortage that has left many Londoners struggling to find affordable homes.
Khan will argue that the current restrictions on building within the green belt are outdated and no longer serve the city’s best interests.
With high housing demand and rising living costs, the mayor believes that continuing to limit development in these areas is unsustainable. He will propose that development be allowed on certain sections of the green belt, under strict conditions that ensure new homes are affordable, energy-efficient, well-connected to transport networks, and maintain access to nearby green spaces.
The proposal represents a significant shift from Khan’s previous position.
While he has consistently advocated for the use of brownfield sites (land that has already been developed) over green belt areas, the mayor now acknowledges that relying solely on brownfield sites will not meet the growing demand for housing in the capital.
Currently, the city has a goal of constructing 88,000 new homes annually, but due to limited land availability, only about 40,000 homes are being built each year. City Hall is already conducting a review of the green belt, identifying areas that are underused or of lower quality—so-called “grey belt” land—that could be suitable for development.
Khan is expected to highlight that not all green belt land is pristine countryside. Much of it is poorly maintained or not regularly accessed by the public. In fact, only a small fraction of the green belt is made up of public parks and recreational areas.
The Mayor’s proposal has garnered support from several government officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.
However, the idea has sparked criticism from environmental groups and political opponents. Many believe that the green belt should remain protected, with concerns that developing on these lands could irreversibly alter the capital’s natural landscapes. Critics point to the 300,000 planning permissions already in place for brownfield land that remain unutilised, suggesting there is plenty of space to build without touching the green belt.
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HeadlineMayor Sadiq Khan to explore development on London’s Green Belt to address housing shortage
Short HeadlineMore development on London's Green Belt
StandfirstSadiq Khan to announce more development on London's Green Belt to help housing issues
In a bold move to tackle London’s housing crisis, Mayor Sadiq Khan is set to announce plans to ‘actively explore’ the possibility of building homes on parts of the city’s green belt. This new strategy seeks to alleviate the housing shortage that has left many Londoners struggling to find affordable homes.
Khan will argue that the current restrictions on building within the green belt are outdated and no longer serve the city’s best interests.
With high housing demand and rising living costs, the mayor believes that continuing to limit development in these areas is unsustainable. He will propose that development be allowed on certain sections of the green belt, under strict conditions that ensure new homes are affordable, energy-efficient, well-connected to transport networks, and maintain access to nearby green spaces.
The proposal represents a significant shift from Khan’s previous position.
While he has consistently advocated for the use of brownfield sites (land that has already been developed) over green belt areas, the mayor now acknowledges that relying solely on brownfield sites will not meet the growing demand for housing in the capital.
Currently, the city has a goal of constructing 88,000 new homes annually, but due to limited land availability, only about 40,000 homes are being built each year. City Hall is already conducting a review of the green belt, identifying areas that are underused or of lower quality—so-called “grey belt” land—that could be suitable for development.
Khan is expected to highlight that not all green belt land is pristine countryside. Much of it is poorly maintained or not regularly accessed by the public. In fact, only a small fraction of the green belt is made up of public parks and recreational areas.
The Mayor’s proposal has garnered support from several government officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.
However, the idea has sparked criticism from environmental groups and political opponents. Many believe that the green belt should remain protected, with concerns that developing on these lands could irreversibly alter the capital’s natural landscapes. Critics point to the 300,000 planning permissions already in place for brownfield land that remain unutilised, suggesting there is plenty of space to build without touching the green belt.
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