The Mayor of London has welcomed renewed support from London boroughs for government proposals to tidy up the planning process in London to allow the Mayor to increase the number of affordable homes. Mayor of Lewisham Steve Bullock has written to Members of Parliament giving his support for proposals from the government to give the Mayor of London more say over a small number of planning decisions.
Mayor Bullock is the Labour leader in London Councils, the body representing London’s boroughs. He represents the nine Labour councils in London. The proposals for City Hall to take over more housing powers from Whitehall have been supported by London borough Councils on an all-party basis.
In his letter to MPs, Steve Bullock says that ‘any new powers will only be used to address issues of real importance to all Londoners, such as providing more affordable housing or ensuring important waste recycling facilities are delivered.’
His letter states: ‘Far from reducing local accountability and transparency the Government's proposal to devolve planning and housing powers to the Mayor of London will mean more affordable homes for Londoners, and will not erode local democracy as is being suggested.
‘There are no proposals to remove planning decisions from local councils. No statutory housing powers and duties that currently rest with local authorities are being transferred to the Mayor.
‘At present GOL [Government Office for London] has the role of ensuring local housing strategies deliver the regional housing strategy - under the proposed changes that responsibility will be devolved to the Mayor.
’The changes therefore represent devolution from central government to the Mayor. Local councils will still be responsible for producing local housing strategies. The Mayor has made clear to us that any new powers will only be used to address issues of real importance to all Londoners, such as providing more affordable housing or ensuring important waste recycling facilities are delivered.’
Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said:
‘There has been an attempt to portray the government’s plans to tidy up the planning process in London as a “power grab” at the expense of London’s councils, whereas in fact there is considerable support across London for these changes which will help us deliver more affordable homes for London. Steve Bullock’s letter to MPs highlights how inaccurate some of the scaremongering has been.
‘Over the last six years we have planned and invested for the future, putting police back on the streets, increasing the supply of affordable homes, cutting congestion and massively expanding the bus service. We need to stay on this course and reject the arguments of those who would take us back to the old policy of underinvestment and lack of clear planning.
‘Under the planning proposals Borough Councils will still decide over 99% of all planning applications with the Mayor having a new right to approve a very small number of major applications of London-wide importance. My priority will be to use these powers to stop the obstruction of plans for new affordable homes for Londoners.’
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