BORIS Johnson is compiling a list of all the spare public land in London which he wants to use to build 32,000 new homes. He has called for an audit of all sites kept by the GLA and othner bodies in London which could be developed
BORIS Johnson is compiling a list of all the spare public land in London which he wants to use to build 32,000 new homes.
The mayor has called for an audit of all sites kept by the Greater London Authority as well as Transport for London, the London Development Agency and the emergency services which could be developed.
"We are is sitting on hundreds of potential sites that could be used for new homes," he told yesterday's Housing Investment conference.
"But the cost and 'red tape' involved is suffocating. So I want to change this.
"I'll put my land where my mouth is and show we can provide more affordable homes by 2011."
The extra housing could be created by freeing up under-used sites, with the GLA acting as a 'shareholder' in any new development. Profits would then be re-invested in more low-cost housing.
The Mayor hopes the 'challenge' to private developers would inject confidence in the housing industry to get new schemes off the ground.
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