Housing associations shrink affordable build programmes as councils step up

Dujardin Mews, Ponders End, north London

Details of City Hall’s £3.4bn allocation also reveal threefold increase in grant rate, partly because of rising materials costs

The extent to which some of the largest London-based social landlords have reduced their development ambitions has been exposed as the Greater London Authority made public its strategic partnership deals for the 2021-26 affordable housing programme.

The £3.46bn list of deals shows big reductions in the proposed output of affordable housing by clients including L&Q, Peabody and Notting Hill. L&Q’s allocation is a tiny fraction of that secured in the previous 2016-23 programme.

The list of strategic partnership deals also appears to show the extent to which grant rates have soared as the GLA has refocused its programme on homes for social rent, at the same time as housing associations have become less willing to cross-subsidise construction of affordable homes using receipts from for-sale housing.

This content is available to registered users | Already registered?Login here

You are not currently logged in.

To continue reading this story, sign up for free guest access

Existing Subscriber? LOGIN

REGISTER for free access on selected stories and sign up for email alerts. You get:

  • Up to the minute architecture news from around the UK
  • Breaking, daily and weekly e-newsletters

 

Subscribe to Building Design and you will benefit from:

Gated access promo

  • Unlimited news
  • Reviews of the latest buildings from all corners of the world
  • Technical studies
  • Full access to all our online archives
  • PLUS you will receive a digital copy of WA100 worth over £45

Subscribe now for unlimited access.