Boroughs are calling for a Budget that will help tackle the homelessness emergency, secure new infrastructure, and generate good growth for communities, London parliamentarians have been told.
Speaking on Monday 12 October at a meeting of the All-Party Parliament Group (APPG) for London, Cllr Anthony Okereke, London Councils’ Executive Member for Housing & Homelessness, highlighted the pipeline of over 50,000 potential new council homes that could be built in the capital if sufficient funding is available.
The APPG meeting was held to discuss London’s priorities at the upcoming Autumn Budget.
London Councils welcomes the prospect of fiscal devolution bringing new opportunities to the capital and boosting boroughs’ ability to deliver for their residents.
In its Budget submission to the government, the cross-party group emphasised that:
- Boroughs are fully committed to building the next generation of council housing across the capital. Based on boroughs’ submissions to the London Social and Affordable Homes Programme, there is a pipeline of over 50,000 new council homes. This would represent an almost 15% increase to London’s council housing stock – a significant boost in the face of London’s worsening housing and homelessness pressures.
- Boroughs want to play a full and active part in shaping the next stages of London’s devolution journey. New fiscal devolution powers must apply to local authorities, with the design of devolved fiscal arrangements in the capital jointly decided between the Mayor and the boroughs.
- Boroughs have agreed with the GLA a London Infrastructure Framework of priority projects. They now want London empowered to invest in its own growth by allowing the capital to retain land value uplift generated by infrastructure projects. This would support investment in the next generation of growth-enabling infrastructure.
- A growing funding gap in town hall budgets threatens to destabilise local services and undermine delivery. London Councils’ latest analysis of local government finances in the capital forecasts up to a £1.2 billion funding gap this year (2026-27), with a cumulative budget shortfall of £5.2 billion between now and 2030.
Cllr Anthony Okereke, London Councils’ Executive Member for Housing & Homelessness, said:
“Boroughs are determined to deliver for their local communities, and the upcoming Budget is a vital opportunity to support these ambitions and realise London’s potential.
“Half of all council homes built in England last year were in London, but there is no complacency. The scale of London’s homelessness emergency means we need to do more. Boroughs have a pipeline of over 50,000 potential new council homes we will build if enough funding is available.
“We are looking for a Budget that boosts boroughs’ ability to deliver homes, sustain services, grow the economy, and tackle the capital’s challenges.”
At the APPG event, London MPs and peers also heard from Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor of London for Transport, Antonia Jennings, Chief Executive of the Centre for London think tank, and Callum Delhoy, Public Affairs Manager at London Youth.
More information on London Councils’ Budget priorities can be found here.
