20
May
London councillor calls for "targeted approach" to housing
The London Councils executive member for housing has welcomed
housing plans outlines in the prime minister's draft Queen's Speech
recently, but said he hopes the government will work with the
Council to meet the capital's specific housing challenges.
Jamie Carswell argued that although Gordon Brown had responded to
the London Councils' call to do more to help low and middle-income
families enter the property market, it needs a "targeted
approach".
He noted that with house prices in the capital are 13 times the
median income at over £360,000, some Londoners need extra help
from schemes such as a rent-free 50-50 shared ownership plan.
"We hope the government will work with us to deliver these
ambitions - and continue its commitment to maintaining the current
funding and level of new housing supply in London," Mr Carswell
stated.
Boris Johnson, the new mayor of London, has proposed a number of
measures to making housing in the capital more affordable,
including bringing existing abandoned properties back into
use.
