Boris Johnson said that he wants to be able to fast track the development of thousands of homes on a host of public land sites. Speaking during a visit to Catford where 500 new homes are being built on a site taken on by the Mayor in 2102, he highlighted how effective this kind of development can be.
The former Catford Dogs Stadium site in Lewisham had lain empty for more than 10 years before coming into his control. Now 87% of the site is in development.
Johnson said there is the capacity for thousands more homes on strategic public land across London that is ripe for development.
The £117 million redevelopment of Catford Green is bringing more than a thousand jobs and 589 new homes to the site in the heart of Lewisham under a deal reached between the Mayor and developer Barratt London. When finished, this will include 173 low cost homes to rent and buy.
The Mayor's work to redevelop disused public land is one strand of his comprehensive Housing Strategy to double house building and create the homes needed in London.
This financial year the Mayor is supporting the completion of more affordable homes than in any other year since 1980. This month further allocations will be made to 54 housing providers, as part of the Mayor's 2015/2018 £1.25 billion pot.
This puts the Mayor on track to deliver the affordable housing targets in the draft London Housing Strategy and adds to the Mayor's 100,000 low cost homes programme across his two terms.
Johnson is driving a cross-party amendment to the government's Infrastructure Bill to extend new powers to accelerate the release of public land to London, by giving the Greater London Authority the same powers to work with Whitehall bodies as the Homes and Communities Agency.
‘This is a fantastic opportunity for us to work with the government and unlock the potential of the many empty and unused sites across the capital. Rapid redevelopment, regeneration and most importantly thousands of new homes for Londoners could be just around the corner given the necessary fast-tracking powers. Dramatic transformations, like the one we are witnessing in Catford, would be possible all over the city,’ said Johnson.
Baroness Jo Valentine, chief executive of business group London First, pointed out that while there are empty sites and redundant buildings owned by the public sector that could be much better used for housing there is no body dedicated to actually identifying where all this land is.
‘First we need to give the Mayor the power to create a 21st Century Domesday Book for London so we know where this land is. Then we need to ensure he has the ability to get on with selling it using his trademark gusto,’ she said.
Catford Green lies in the heart of one of London's key opportunity areas. The extensive development is a major catalyst for further regeneration in Catford Town Centre. Lewisham Council have outlined a number of redevelopment opportunities including the redevelopment of Catford Shopping Centre and plans to improve the transport network in the town centre.
‘It is very good news for Catford that this site is finally to be developed. The additional homes and jobs will be very welcome in this part of Lewisham, and the development will sit well alongside our own plans for the rebuilding and improvement of Catford Town Centre,’ said Mayor of Lewisham Sir Steve Bullock.
