Barnet Council has warned it will need significant Government funding for infrastructure support if it is to meet the Mayor of London’s proposed new housing target for the borough.
The Greater London Authority (GLA) has today unveiled proposals in its draft London PlanExternal link, which will see Barnet’s housing target increase by 38 per cent. This would take the borough’s target to 3,273 – or an additional 909 more homes a year.
Barnet has consistently been one of London’s leading boroughs for housebuilding since the adoption of the existing London Plan in 2021. While delivery has remained challenging across London, Barnet has averaged 2,157 new homes a year over the past five years compared to the Mayor of London’s target of 2,364 a year.
Cllr Ross Houston, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Homes and Regeneration, said:
“We are committed to building the homes residents need, including genuinely affordable homes, while ensuring that growth is planned carefully and supported by the services, transport links and community infrastructure people rely on.
“We have already demonstrated our commitment to tackling the housing crisis through our ambitious programme to deliver 1,000 new council homes over the last four years and by maintaining one of the strongest housebuilding records in London.
“However, even achieving our current target has been challenging, given the years of austerity and the council’s financial position. We want to play our part in achieving responsible growth which takes the community with us, but to do this we will need significant government investment to help unlock the necessary infrastructure.”
The draft London Plan states the majority of London’s future housing need should be met on brownfield land. However, it also says that some housing delivery could be supported through the release of Green Belt sites across London.
Cllr Houston said: “While the London Plan can promote a case for a strategic release of Green Belt land, it does not have the remit to make Green Belt boundary changes. That is for each borough’s local plan.
“Barnet Council will carefully assess the detail of the draft London Plan before submitting its formal response to the consultation and we will continue to work with residents, communities and partners to ensure any future growth delivers the homes, opportunities and neighbourhoods that people need and want to see.”
