Islington Council has voiced its opposition to Sir Sadiq Khan’s decision to cut affordable housing targets, but has distanced itself from the legal challenges launched by three other boroughs in June. The Labour-run North London council says it will lobby against the Mayor of London’s controversial emergency housebuilding measures, which were unveiled in October 2025.
Policy Details and Impact
The policy proposes reducing the affordable housing requirement for new developments from 35 per cent to 20 per cent until December 2028. This move, put forward by the Government and City Hall, aims to stimulate construction in the capital amid a slump in building starts. Islington, which has a social housing waitlist topping 16,000 and some of the highest private rents in the capital, is now the second Labour-run council to come out against the emergency measures.
Council's Position
During a motion presented at Islington Town Hall on Thursday, Cllr Hannah McHugh (Labour) said that the council “had to challenge the Government and the Mayor where we disagree” and reaffirmed the local authority’s commitment to a 50 per cent affordable housing target in the borough for developers. However, she distanced the council from the legal challenge against the emergency measures lodged by Green and Aspire-led councils, including Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Lewisham the week prior. “Our job is to be serious, practical and focused on delivery. Not to turn every disagreement into a press release or a court threat,” Cllr McHugh said.
Political Divisions
An original motion brought forward by the Green opposition group in Islington had urged councillors to welcome the judicial review, but the Labour group – which has a majority on the council – backed their own amended version, praising Mayor Khan’s record on housing while adding that the council would “monitor” the legal challenge. Executive Member for Planning, Cllr James Potts, said: “The only thing that [the Greens’] motion would do is waste money on legal challenges that may not even be needed.” To this, the Greens accused the Labour administration of lacking ambition and for “watering down” their motion. “All we’re left with is lobbying,” said Cllr Sheridan Kates.
Broader Context
In January, Brent Council warned City Hall and the Government that the quota cuts risked making matters worse by reducing the number of affordable homes delivered. Meanwhile, Lambeth, Southwark, Waltham Forest and Haringey councils – all controlled fully or partially by the Green Party – have declared their formal support for the High Court challenge. Responding to Islington’s position, a spokesperson for the Mayor of London said the measures were an example of the “bold action” needed to stimulate housebuilding and tackle the housing crisis. “There’s now a perfect storm facing housebuilding in London due to a combination of high interest rates, the rising cost of construction materials, the legacy of the pandemic, a shortage of skilled workers and the lasting impact of Brexit,” the spokesperson said. “This is a measure to get shovels in the ground now. In terms of affordable housing numbers during this difficult period, 20% of something will be more than 35% of nothing.”
