Transport for London has been criticised for its failure to secure more than 26% of affordable homes across the first three sites for its chosen partners to redevelop.
Planning applications submitted for sites at Nine Elms, SW8; Northwood, HA6; and Parsons Green, SW6, have provisions for between 20% and 40% affordable homes, working out at an average of 26%, the London Assembly Planning Committee heard.
The three sites are the first of 75 for which housing will be delivered by TfL’s 13 chosen development partners. These were announced earlier this month after a competitive bidding process.
London Assembly member Nicky Gavron, questioning TfL’s commercial development director Graime Craig, said: “If we fall short on our public land, what sort of signals are we giving and where are we going to get the housing from?”
TfL has pledged to deliver “thousands of affordable homes” across the sites, which total 300 acres and are expected to contribute to plans to bring in £3.4bn of non-fare revenue by 2023.
Graime Craig, TfL’s commercial development director, said the three sites shouldn’t be taken as “exemplars” of the further sites coming forward and said he was committed to delivering affordable homes.
However, he said that affordable homes could not be maximised on every site at the same time as receiving significant capital receipts to reinvest in transport infrastructure.
He also said future sites it is in the process of identifying for land disposal were likely to be tied into a strategic framework to help meet the mayor of London’s priorities, rather than being considered on site-by-site basis to maximise capital receipts, as has been the case in previous years.
To send feedback, email louisa.clarence-smith@estatesgazette.com or tweet @LouisaClarence or @estatesgazette
