Three London councils have launched a legal challenge at the High Court against the Greater London Authority (GLA) over proposed cuts to affordable housing quotas. Hackney, Tower Hamlets, and Lewisham councils are challenging plans to reduce the percentage of affordable housing that private developers must include in new projects from 35% to 20%.
Background of the Challenge
Currently, developers can use a fast-tracked planning process if they allocate 35% of a development to affordable housing. However, under plans announced in October, this quota is set to be reduced to 20%. The councils argue that Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan and City Hall have not followed the proper process for amending the quota in the London Plan, a development strategy written by the mayor. They also claim there was a lack of consultation before the decision was made.
Support from Other Councils and Politicians
The legal challenge is being supported by Lambeth, Southwark, Waltham Forest, and Haringey councils, as well as Green Party leader Zack Polanski. Hackney, Tower Hamlets, and Lewisham are each led by a directly elected mayor.
A Mayor of London spokesperson said: “We can confirm that a claim for judicial review has been issued against the GLA. As legal proceedings are ongoing, we are unable to comment further at this stage.”
Statements from Council Leaders
Zoe Garbett, the Green Party executive mayor of Hackney who was elected in May, said that housing was the mayors’ “number one issue”. She told the Press Association: “These measures that are being brought in are a developer’s solution and they will stifle what we are able to do as London directly elected mayors and leaders in our boroughs.” She added: “It’s about saying no, we should be expecting more from our developments.”
Liam Shrivastava, the mayor of Lewisham who is also from the Green Party, said communities “are crying out for genuinely affordable housing”. He noted that there are more than 10,000 people on the housing waiting list in the borough. Mr Shrivastava told PA: “We have to have genuinely affordable council led housing solutions for our residents. That’s what they deserve and that is what we are fighting for and that’s why we’re bringing this challenge.”
He also said that he did not believe there was evidence that the proposals would stimulate housebuilding, later describing the measures as “tinkering around the edges” and “window dressing”.
Lutfur Rahman, mayor of Tower Hamlets from the Aspire party, told PA: “There should be more homes to help the ordinary folks in London, not for the super-rich, not for assets just sitting there, unoccupied that can’t be sold or rented out.” Mr Rahman also said he did not believe there had been a proper consultation between City Hall and the boroughs. He added: “We want to have that dialogue, we want to have that discussion, we know our boroughs more than someone from outside. We know what the needs are.”
Broader Political Context
Zack Polanski described housing issues in London as a “scandal” which will be a key issue in the next London mayoral election. He said: “With thousands of families languishing on waiting lists and one in 21 children homeless and growing up in overcrowded temporary accommodation, we cannot afford for thousands more to be priced out of their communities and plunged into poverty and homelessness.”
Next Steps
The legal challenge has been filed at the High Court in London. Judges will now decide whether the case is “arguable” and can go to a full hearing.
