According to the deputy mayor for housing, London faces significant challenges in achieving its goal of constructing 88,000 new homes annually over the next ten years unless two critical rail initiatives receive approval.
Tom Copley indicated that the upcoming London Plan will incorporate the government’s mandate as part of a broader objective to create 1.5 million new homes across the UK by 2029. However, he warned that this goal may not be met without essential infrastructure development.
During a session with the London Assembly Budget and Performance Committee, he emphasized the necessity for substantial infrastructure investment. “A great deal needs to occur for us to reach that objective,” he remarked. “The extension of the Docklands Light Railway is crucial. We also require an extension of the Bakerloo Line and the West London Orbital.”
The DLR extension received endorsement from Chancellor Rachel Reeves during November’s Budget discussions. If realized, it could facilitate the construction of up to 30,000 new homes between Beckton Riverside and Thamesmead.
Copley urged government officials to support the proposed Bakerloo Line extension from Elephant and Castle into southern London, along with the West London Orbital that would link north and west London.
“We’re planning for 880,000 homes over the next decade, but it’s important to clarify that the London Plan serves as a spatial development strategy rather than a delivery mechanism,” he explained.
He noted that achieving the target would necessitate some development on green belt land, although he could not specify what percentage of the new homes would need to be built on this protected area.
The London Plan, which outlines how the city is expected to evolve over the next 20 to 25 years, was last updated in 2021 and is set to undergo revisions this year.
An independent analysis by consulting firm Hatch indicated that extending the Bakerloo Line to Hayes in the southeast could allow for the construction of 107,000 additional homes, according to reports from Local Democracy Services.
The West London Orbital, which would connect Hendon and West Hampstead to Hounslow, is projected to facilitate the development of up to 15,800 new homes.
Both projects have the support of the mayor of London, but neither was included in last year’s government Budget.
Currently, discussions are taking place between City Hall and Whitehall; however, there are no immediate plans for either project to receive approval in the near future.
