London Mayor Sadiq Khan has sounded the alarm on what he describes as a "genuine housing emergency" gripping the capital, demanding immediate new powers to turbocharge homebuilding and address the city's deepening affordability crisis.
The Scale of London's Housing Crisis
In a stark warning that underscores the severity of the situation, Khan revealed that London needs to construct approximately 66,000 new homes annually just to keep pace with demand. Current building rates fall dramatically short of this target, creating a perfect storm of skyrocketing rents, unaffordable prices, and growing homelessness.
"The situation we face in London is a genuine housing emergency," Khan stated emphatically. "We cannot continue with business as usual while so many Londoners struggle to find a secure, affordable place to call home."
Emergency Powers Sought
The Mayor is calling for a radical overhaul of the current system, seeking:
- Direct intervention powers to accelerate stalled housing developments
- Enhanced compulsory purchase authority to unlock brownfield sites
- Streamlined planning processes to cut through bureaucratic delays
- Greater control over public land to prioritise affordable housing
The Human Cost of Inaction
Behind the statistics lies a human tragedy unfolding across the capital. Families face being priced out of their neighbourhoods, young professionals see home ownership as an impossible dream, and the number of households in temporary accommodation continues to climb.
"We're seeing the social fabric of our city stretched to breaking point," Khan warned. "When key workers can't afford to live in the communities they serve, when young talent is forced to leave London, we all lose out."
A Call for Cross-Party Cooperation
The Mayor emphasised that solving London's housing emergency requires collaboration across political divides and between local and national government. He urged ministers to recognise the unique pressures facing the capital and provide the tools needed to address them effectively.
With London's population continuing to grow and housing supply failing to keep pace, the Mayor's emergency declaration signals a critical moment in the battle to ensure London remains a city for everyone, not just the wealthy few.
The coming months will reveal whether Khan's urgent plea for new powers receives the government backing needed to transform London's housing landscape or if political barriers will prevent the radical action he insists is necessary.
