Sadiq Khan has unveiled intentions to develop certain sections of London’s green belt, marking a significant change in housing strategy aimed at addressing what he describes as “the most severe housing crisis in the city’s history.”

In a pivotal address on Friday, the mayor of London is anticipated to highlight the enormity of the challenge, which may necessitate constructing roughly one million new homes over the next decade, thereby requiring a departure from long-standing conventions.

This announcement signifies city hall’s first endorsement of strategically releasing low-quality or hard-to-access green belt land close to transportation links in order to create hundreds of thousands of new affordable residences.

Khan is expected to state, “The current approach is outdated, incorrect, and unsustainable. By developing select areas of the green belt—when executed appropriately—we can unlock the potential for hundreds of thousands of quality new homes for Londoners.

“As mayor, I refuse to disregard such an opportunity merely because it might be politically challenging—especially not when the future prospects of the next generation of Londoners are at stake.”

Currently, London constructs around 35,000 new homes annually, which is less than half of the 88,000 homes that Khan has indicated the city requires each year to keep pace with demand. The mayor reiterated his pledge to focus on building homes on previously developed sites, while acknowledging that “this alone will not suffice to meet our needs.”

This new policy will be part of a broader consultation regarding the next London Plan, which will outline Khan’s vision for the city’s development over the next 20-25 years. City hall has also initiated a city-wide review of the green belt, in accordance with government stipulations, to examine all possibilities for identifying sufficient land to address housing requirements throughout the capital.

Khan emphasized that this announcement does not contradict his claim of being the “greenest mayor London has ever had,” as he plans to enhance biodiversity and increase genuinely green and accessible land while developing the green belt.

His proposals have garnered support from various political figures and housing advocates. Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister and housing secretary, expressed the government’s endorsement of Khan’s “ambitious” proposal, which responds to the pressing challenge of London’s housing crisis. She remarked, “We cannot resolve this crisis and build the 1.5 million homes we need without London adopting an ambitious strategy.”

Local councils in London also received the plan positively, along with Ben Twomey, the chief executive of Generation Rent, who noted that the policy would help shield Londoners from the “astronomical cost of renting” that has driven many into poverty and homelessness.

However, environmental advocates have cautioned Khan against sacrificing vital parks and green spaces for residents in areas that are already underserved.

Roger Mortlock, the chief executive of the countryside charity CPRE, commented: “The solution to the housing crisis isn’t to develop local parks, playing fields, and farmland; it’s about transforming the market and holding developers accountable with ambitious and enforceable targets for genuinely affordable homes.”

Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of the Open Spaces Society, asserted that new developments should include natural areas and green spaces, while Shaun Spiers of Green Alliance suggested that subpar green belt land could be transformed into high-quality green spaces that urban areas often lack.

Khan acknowledged the divisive nature of this proposal but urged Londoners to “remain open-minded” and consider the evidence. “We have young professionals stuck living in their childhood bedrooms for years; Londoners enduring cold, damp living conditions that are unfit for habitation; couples reluctantly leaving the city to start families; and primary schools shutting down because young families can no longer afford to stay in the area.

“This situation breaks my heart. The impact of the housing crisis is both widespread and significant. We cannot allow it to persist.”