The UK’s largest business group has called on London’s next mayor to support the build-to-rent sector, to release more public-sector land for housing and to create a new housing strategy within 100 days of taking office.
The CBI’s London manifesto sets out the group’s wish list for housing, transport infrastructure, the planning system, digital and technology skills, trade, tourism and financial services.
Key action points also include exploring how a rise in planning application fees could speed up decision-making within planning authorities, and pressing the government to build a new airport runway in the South East and deliver Transport for London’s business plan, including Crossrail 2.
The CBI says the new mayor should develop London’s ‘Knowledge Quarter’ and support the capital’s digital talent taskforce to help address future digital skills needs.
It also calls for certainty and consistency in UK tax policy to attract financial firms and wants the chancellor to end the bank corporation tax surcharge by the end of parliament, once the budget is balanced.
CBI London director Lucy Haynes said: “From building the 50,000 homes a year the capital needs to house its talented workers, and a new runway that will boost our exports to high-growth markets, to making the city a global beacon for digital and technological skills, London’s next leader has a unique opportunity to plan ahead, and position the city at the head of the pack.”
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