Tower Hamlets to lobby Bo Jo for 50 per cent affordable housing on Olympic site

TOWER Hamlets council is to lobby Boris Johnson and the Government in a bid to raise the quota of affordable homes for East Enders on the Olympic site. At a meeting on Wednesday evening, members of the council voted unanimously to press the Mayor of Londo

TOWER Hamlets council is to lobby Boris Johnson and the Government in a bid to raise the quota of affordable homes for East Enders on the Olympic site.

At a meeting on Wednesday evening, members of the council voted unanimously to press the Mayor of London and the Government to instruct the Olympic Development Authority and the Olympic Legacy Company to change their policies and make sure that half of all homes built on the site are classed as affordable.

Housing chief Cllr Marc Francis said the current policy of 35 per cent 'affordable' housing, split 50-50 between social rented and part-buy-part rent properties, was "totally inadequate and unacceptable" and that only about 17 per cent of the homes would benefit people on council waiting lists.

Councillors want 70 per cent of the affordable homes on the Olympic site to be for rent through the council or social landlords to ensure "a real housing legacy for Londoners".

A letter to Mr Johnson and the Government is now being drafted by officers.