Homes for London: New measures to boost housebuilding in the capital announced

The Mayor of London has issued a policy statement outlining a new package of support for housing across the Capital. The proposals include:

• Temporary relief from the Community Infrastructure Levy,
• Changes to planning guidance on density levels to allow greater flexibility on design,
• Permitting residential schemes on private land that provide at least 20% affordable housing to proceed without an upfront viability assessment, and
• Extended powers for the Mayor of London including a requirement for Boroughs to refer planning schemes of 50 units or more which they are minded to refuse. 

Each measure requires further steps to be implemented including 6 week consultation (due to commence in November) and depending on the outcome, changes to legislation.