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11th March 2016
David Aaronovitch argues in favour of tall buildings for London in the Times. He says that it is the natural way for an overcrowded London to expand, where aesthetic preferences have always fluctuated. Additionally, the proposed projects are clumped together in clusters.
The Times (10/03/2016)
11th March 2016
The CBI has challenged London's mayoral candidates to make a commitment to build 50,000 homes a year to solve London's housing crisis and to help business attract talent to the capital. As part of its London Prosperity Agenda, the group wants a radical housing policy from the next mayor – including getting local councils to unlock public land for building and simplifying the planning process. Zac Goldsmith has pledged to increase housebuilding to 50,000 a year by 2020, Sadiq Khan has promised 80,000 new homes a year, and Caroline Pidgeon also pledged to meet the 50,000 total.
Evening Standard (09/03/2016)
4th March 2016
The first phase of homes at Notting Hill Development’s Royal Albert Wharf development will be launched on Thursday, March 10th. Located just next to Gallions Reach DLR station, the development is bordered on three sides by water, with the Thames to the east, Royal Albert Dock to west, and a lock to the south, and will eventually provide more than 1,500 homes, designed by Maccreanor Lavington Architects. The first batch of properties on the market comprises 350 homes, split into 123 for private sale, 73 for private rent, and 154 for a mixture of shared ownership and affordable rentals. Prices for the one, two and three-bedroom flats and duplexes start from £330,000.
The Wharf (01/03/2016)
4th March 2016
A report by London Conservatives claims that "pop-up" housing could cut the cost of London's rental market by a third. Factory-assembled units cost half as much to build as traditional methods and can be customised to match the surrounding area. They are also much quicker to construct. Tory Assembly housing spokesman Andrew Boff wants councils to use public land and small, disused sites identified by the London Land Commission for building pre-fabs.
Evening Standard (26/02/2016)
4th March 2016
Demand for property in London's luxury home market has slowed, with JLL reversing its forecast that new-build central London developments would rise in price by 1% this year. The property consultancy is now forecasting a 3% decline. The Mail says several factors may have hit the sector, including global economic uncertainty and the increase in stamp duty for properties valued above £937,500. Andrew Frost, head of residential research at JLL, notes the impact the upcoming stamp duty increase will have, saying: “By including new build property within the 3% stamp duty increase, the Government has directly undermined its own priority to boost housing supply.”
Daily Mail (01/03/2016)
4th March 2016
Analysing a report from Shelter which details rents paid across the country, the Standard focuses on the figures for the capital. It says London renters in a two-bedroom home have paid an average £89,000 to their landlord in the last five years. Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster residents faced the most expensive rents, paying up to £173,595 and £159,367 respectively over the period. Bexley renters saw the lowest total, paying £52,533 in five years. Nationally, 46% of 25-34 year olds now privately rent, compared to 24% ten years ago.
Evening Standard (03/03/2016)