London’s affordable housing crisis deepens as delivery stalls and policies falter

Data reveals a sharp decline in affordable housebuilding across London, exposing failures of current policies and leadership amid a worsening housing emergency.

The dismal state of affordable housebuilding in London is a clear indictment of the current administration’s failure to deliver for ordinary Londoners. Data from the Greater London Authority (GLA) reveals that in the six months from April to September, developers started just 1,239 affordable homes, barely a quarter of the 3,991 begun in the entire previous year. Since the controversial approval of the Affordable Homes Programme (AHP) for 2021-2026 in 2023, only 6,370 affordable homes have been initiated, far from the 17,800 to 19,000 starts needed before March 2026. To meet targets, developers would need to accelerate their efforts by over 11,400 homes in the next 18 months, a nearly impossible feat under current policies.

This crisis has been exacerbated by the Mayor’s lack of effective leadership. Critics have condemned Sadiq Khan for presiding over a “housing crisis on steroids,” with the pipeline for new affordable homes drying up under his watch. Several boroughs, including Richmond upon Thames, Lambeth, Hackney, and Merton, have recorded no affordable housing starts since April, while even relatively better-performing areas like Ealing and Sutton fall drastically short of demand. Such stagnation underscores the Mayor’s inability, or unwillingness, to address London’s fundamental housing shortages.

The decline in completed affordable homes is equally stark. Just 2,904 dwellings were finished in the first half of this financial year, an alarming drop from over 11,636 completions in 2024-25. Alarmingly, this downturn coincides with a government-funded deal that slashed the affordable housing requirement from 35 to just 20 percent, an attack on the very goal of increasing affordability, dressed up as an incentive for builders to “accelerate” development. But in reality, it is yet another handout to big developers while ordinary Londoners continue to be priced out of their own city.

Delays and policy-induced setbacks have played a significant role. Deputy Mayor Tom Copley blames regulatory hurdles, delays from the Building Safety Regulator, and the late approval of the AHP for the slowdown. Economic headwinds, rising material and labour costs driven by Brexit, global instability, and the war in Ukraine, along with sky-high borrowing costs, only make matters worse. Yet, these excuses mask the larger failure of a government that has consistently neglected London’s housing needs and prioritized short-term developer profits over affordable homes.

Opposition voices, including those from the London Assembly, are right to point out that private developers, sitting on vast land banks, have yet to deliver the homes London desperately needs. Instead of relying on the private sector to come through in a city where market forces have failed, there should be a decisive shift towards empowering local authorities and bold, publicly-led schemes. The current approach of grants and market incentives has failed, and taxpayers’ money should be directed into direct, accountable projects that prioritize genuine affordability.

The reality is sobering: in 2023-24, only 2,358 affordable homes were started with city funding, the lowest figure since Sadiq Khan took office eight years ago. This is a stark contrast to the estimated 43,000 affordable homes London needs annually, illustrating the scale of failure. The public deserves a government willing to enact meaningful reforms, cut through red tape, and take responsibility for tackling this chronic crisis.

While the government claims to be committed to a national target of 1.5 million new homes, including social and affordable options, the tangible impact remains to be seen. Investment plans totaling £39 billion aim to speed up construction, but without strong leadership and a clear plan to cut through bureaucratic delays and market distortions, these promises are hollow.

In the end, London’s housing emergency is a disaster of the Mayor’s making. His administration’s inability to deliver affordable homes is pushing the city further into crisis, with no sign of change on the horizon. It’s high time for a new approach, one rooted in principles of accountability, public ownership, and a genuine commitment to restoring fairness in housing. The political establishment’s current failures have left Londoners high and dry, and only a determined opposition will stand up for those abandoned by this broken system.

Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
8

Notes:
The narrative presents recent data on London’s affordable housing starts, with figures from April 2023 to March 2024 indicating a significant decline of 88% compared to the previous year. ([standard.co.uk](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/london-affordable-housing-starts-homes-social-rent-b1195732.html?utm_source=openai)) This aligns with the latest available statistics, suggesting the content is current. However, the article’s tone and structure resemble a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. The inclusion of updated data amidst older material may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.

Quotes check

Score:
7

Notes:
The narrative includes direct quotes from Deputy Mayor Tom Copley and opposition voices. A search reveals that similar statements have been made in previous reports and articles, indicating potential reuse of content. Variations in wording suggest paraphrasing rather than direct reuse. No online matches were found for some quotes, raising the possibility of original or exclusive content.

Source reliability

Score:
6

Notes:
The narrative originates from a local news outlet, mylondon.news, which is part of the Reach plc network. While Reach plc is a reputable organisation, the specific outlet’s credibility is less established. The report references data from the Greater London Authority (GLA), a legitimate public body, enhancing the report’s reliability. However, the lack of direct citations and the narrative’s tone suggest potential biases or selective reporting.

Plausability check

Score:
7

Notes:
The narrative’s claims about the decline in affordable housing starts are corroborated by recent reports from other reputable outlets, such as The Standard and BBC News. ([standard.co.uk](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/london-affordable-housing-starts-homes-social-rent-b1195732.html?utm_source=openai)) The inclusion of specific figures and references to the Affordable Homes Programme 2021-2026 adds credibility. However, the article’s tone is unusually dramatic, and the structure includes excessive or off-topic detail unrelated to the claim, which may be a distraction tactic.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary:
The narrative presents current data on London’s affordable housing crisis, with figures from April 2023 to March 2024 indicating a significant decline of 88% compared to the previous year. ([standard.co.uk](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/london-affordable-housing-starts-homes-social-rent-b1195732.html?utm_source=openai)) While the content is timely, the report’s tone and structure resemble a press release, and the lack of direct citations raises concerns about potential biases or selective reporting. The inclusion of updated data amidst older material may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. The dramatic tone and off-topic details suggest possible distraction tactics.