Given the accumulating pressures on the London housing market - caps on benefits entitlement, the shortage of affordable housing, and the impact of international purchase and investment - the CLF Board determined that Housing should be adopted as a 2011/12 priority workstream.
The following paper was prepared for the CLF Board meeting on 21 September 2011. The paper focuses on key issues associated with the central London housing market and affordable housing development, including:
- The strong economic forces which drive London's housing market given its position as a "global city"
- The increasingly important role of the private rented sector
- The aspirations and impact of new development in areas like the City Fringe, Elephant and Castle and Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea
- The impact of benefit caps
- Mismatch between demand and supply
- Joint working between RSLs, the HCA and local authorities
The paper also suggests steps which the central London boroughs can take to work in partnership with other stakeholders to progress the housing agenda.
Central London Housing Trends and Development Prospects (162kb)
A further paper was prepared for the Board in December 2011 which specifically focuses on student housing development in certain areas of central London. Higher education has become a major component of the London economy; central and inner London planning authorities will therefore continue to come under pressure to meet the demand for student housing development. The paper summarises these challenges and the approaches which local authorities are taking to meet them.
