London faces the risk of falling significantly further behind other parts of England in addressing its social housing waiting list, according to new analysis from the Centre for Cities think tank.
The Centre for Cities suggests that planned delivery through the Social and Affordable Homes Programme will equate to just 18% of London’s priority waiting list by 2036. This figure contrasts with 46% in rural areas and 26% across England’s established mayoral areas.
Despite London securing up to £11.7bn through the £39bn programme, the think tank argues that ministers should direct more funding towards large cities, citing greater housing need in these areas. Ant Breach, director of policy and research at Centre for Cities, stated that based on current plans, rural areas are set to make more than twice as much progress against their priority waiting lists as London, which he says "doesn't make sense when London has the most severe housing pressure in the country."
The Centre for Cities also recommends that metro mayors gain greater control over social and affordable housing funding, noting that London already operates a devolved model. They argue that mayors are better placed to coordinate housing delivery across council boundaries.