Housing

London is going through a period of expansion faster than anything we have seen in the last forty years. Hundreds of thousands of people arrive to live and work here each year because this is the greatest city in the world. But this success has a price.

The average first-time buyer in London has to pay over sixty per cent more for their home than the national average. Hundreds of thousands of London families are being pushed into poverty because of the cost of housing. The severe shortage of homes has been called a crisis and that's no overstatement.

The Mayor has an important role to play in the provision of affordable housing. But what does 'affordable' actually mean? It must not mean second best. It must not mean high rise council flats. It must not mean cramped and overcrowded. We must build houses that will still be loved and respected in 100 years, dwellings of distinction and grace that satisfy the instinct for differentiation that is deep in the human soul.

My approach will focus on delivering more of the homes Londoners want by working with the London boroughs on new developments - not bullying and berating them - and by helping people on low incomes with a variety of financial keys to the doors:

• We need to work in partnership with local councils to increase the number of affordable homes, year on year, in every borough. Quotas are not the answer and local residents should have a say in what is most appropriate for their community.
• We must develop more family-sized homes with gardens, and we need to give more Londoners the chance to own their family home.
• We should leave a lasting legacy for future generations. Now, more than ever, we have an opportunity to reshape what our great city looks and feels like. That means homes and buildings that are not just functional, but beautiful.
• Part of the legacy should be the protection of London's historic views. Yes, London needs development but we should be developing building that compliment rather than block these.

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