Sadiq Khan announces plans to back building homes on London’s green belt

Local TV

The Mayor of London spoke at Kidbrooke Village in Greenwich saying that his position on the green belt has changed because because he believes this moment demands change and he asks Londoners to keep an open mind.

Transcript

00:00Look, I know this is a contentious issue.

00:05So let me set out my reasoning and the wider context.

00:10London's Greenbelt is the largest in the UK,

00:14covering over half a million hectares.

00:19This makes it three times, three times as big as London itself.

00:24Within the London boundary,

00:26we have the highest percentage of land designated

00:30as Greenbelt of any city in England, just over a fifth.

00:36The perception of many people is that it's all beautiful countryside,

00:40green and pleasant land, rich with wildlife.

00:44The reality is very different.

00:46Everyone knows London faces a significant housing crisis,

00:52demands for places to live in the capital,

00:55and the lack of supply has led to exceptionally

00:58unaffordable house prices and rent,

01:02with homelessness consistently on the rise.

01:06Under current proposals,

01:08London's planners will look to release

01:10some Greenbelt land for house building,

01:13but with conditions on affordable housing,

01:17energy efficiency, transport links

01:19and promoting access to green spaces such as parks.

01:23Development on carefully chosen areas of the Greenbelt done in the right way

01:29would allow us to unlock hundreds of thousands of new homes.

01:34This would not only go a long way to ending the housing crisis,

01:39but provide a huge boost to our economy.

01:41And as Mayor, I'm not willing to ignore such a prospect just because it might be politically difficult.

01:49Not when the life chances of the next generation of Londoners is on the line.

01:54Of course, national funding for housing and transport infrastructure will play a pivotal role in our approach.

02:02Lastly, I want to make clear that I remain proud to be the greenest mayor London has ever had,

02:10and that I don't see what I'm announcing today as running contrary to this.

02:15We have a strong record of building low-carbon homes in London

02:20and helping to conserve and expand nature as part of our developments.

02:26Now let's work together to achieve something truly ambitious.

02:29Let's go.

02:31Let's go.

02:32Let's go.

02:33Let's go.

02:34Let's go.

02:36Let's go.

02:37Let's go.

02:38Let's go.

02:39Let's go.

02:40今んとわか did to our write-up place,

02:42let's go.

02:42Let's go left and just get it,

02:44igo go.

02:45Let's go.

02:46Patterson.

02:46In this particular home that it was a successful environment here,

02:50before taking place,

02:51let's go.

02:52Get it.

02:53I know.

02:54Let's go.

02:55Don't pause.

02:55Here.

02:56Let's go.

02:57I know.

02:57Let's go.

02:58I have to go.

02:58I know.

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