What sorts of housing most benefits London's poorer neighbourhoods? My story of a test case of sorts begins:
"Boris Johnson has given the go-ahead to a £50m development project in a London borough led by a political ally, despite a warning from his own planning officers that it will fail to help meet the housing needs of some of the poorest local residents. The scheme, which will bring new housing and a health and social care centre to the White City area of west London, originally provided for 50% of its accommodation units to be 'affordable' - half for private purchase at 'intermediate' prices and half for 'social rent' by the least well-off."
Now read on.
Ah. The tories have been approving lots of new housing in the borough and watering down the social housing aspect. LBH&F is incredibly diverse, with some areas of real deprivation and is longstanding Labour territory to the north.
To the south however, lies Fulham and the Tory stronghold. Where Labour in the north always outnumbered tories to the south the balance is shifting. To encourage the shift, the long term plan is kind of like a westminster gerrymandering slow burn.
Build more housing. Reduce social element, get more home owners in the borough, get more tory voting home owners in the borough goes the thinking...
Posted by: JF | August 14, 2008 at 10:16 AM