The Government has told Westminster Council to increase its requirements for affordable housing.
At the moment, according to the council’s Unitary Development Plan (UDP), sites outside the West End only require 30% of housing to be in the affordable category. This will be increased to 50%.
The threshold for providing affordable housing in new developments across the whole of the borough will also have to be reduced from 15 to 10, and a commitment to review the policy will be added to the UDP.
London Mayor Ken Livingstone said: “This backing from central government of a key policy in my London Plan is hugely welcome. As a result we will see many more affordable homes for key workers and those in housing need being built in Westminster.
“It sends a clear message that every council in London must play its full part in meeting the need for new affordable homes.”
Westminster council’s cabinet minister for planning, councillor Robert Davies, called the decision “astonishing and inconsistent”.
He added that the policy would reduce the number of affordable houses in the capital.
He said: “This decision shows a complete lack of sensitivity to the needs of central London and could see many developers deciding that residential building in the area is simply not worth their while.
“It is the most extreme housing policy to be imposed anywhere in the UK and goes further than the mayor’s own recommendations and the decisions taken in other parts of London this is one rule for Westminster and one rule for everyone else.
“What makes this move both astonishing and inconsistent is that the Government’s own inspectors, after a lengthy planning enquiry, have declared our policy legal. Now John Prescott has unilaterally decided to overturn that recommendation.
“We are now considering our position and will take advice on whether to make a legal challenge to this decision.”
References: EGi News 10/12/04
