New data has revealed that progress on London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s affordable housing programme has reached a concerning low. The City Hall Conservatives have called for Khan to be placed in “special measures” due to the insufficient number of affordable homes being built in the city.
Official statistics show that only 150 affordable properties were started between April and June this year, bringing the total number of starts to 1,927. This is significantly below the original target of delivering 35,000 affordable homes across the capital. Last year, the target was revised to between 23,900 and 27,200 due to rising costs.
Tory assembly member Lord Bailey has issued a letter to the new Labour Government highlighting the urgency of the situation and the need for immediate action. The Conservatives argue that the low levels of affordable housing construction are a result of the challenges faced by the sector and the inadequate response from the mayor’s office.
While the mayor’s office acknowledges the challenges, they point out that London is still recovering from the previous government’s mishandling of the housing crisis. However, critics argue that the affordability crisis cannot be solely blamed on the past government and that more proactive measures are needed to address the pressing issue.
With a deadline of March 2026, Sadiq Khan has less than two years to start work on the remaining 21,973 homes required to meet the lower end of the revised target. The success of his affordable housing programme will be critical in determining the future affordability and availability of housing in London.