In a significant shift in policy, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced that City Hall would begin actively exploring the release of parts of London’s green belt for development.
Speaking in Greenwich, the Mayor explained that his change in stance was driven by the scale and urgency of London’s housing crisis, which he described as having a deeply damaging effect—especially on families and younger residents. He acknowledged that meeting the capital’s housing need – estimated at 88,000 new homes per year for the next decade – would require bold and honest solutions. This level of housebuilding had not been seen since the 1930s, during a rare nationwide housing boom.
The Mayor said that relying solely on brownfield land would never be enough to meet such demand. He pointed out that large areas of the green belt were of low environmental or recreational value – often poorly maintained, inaccessible, and lacking biodiversity. Maintaining the current restrictions, he argued, was ‘wrong, out-of-date and unsustainable.’
Khan proposed that selectively releasing less valuable green belt land could unlock hundreds of thousands of new homes, including social housing, and provide a significant boost to London’s economy. He emphasised that any such development would be tied to strong conditions: high standards of design, energy efficiency, increased public access to green spaces, and gains in biodiversity.
The Mayor also stressed that new housing must be supported by improved infrastructure. He outlined plans to work with the UK Government on key transport investments, including rail ‘metro-isation’ and extensions to the Bakerloo line and Docklands Light Railway, enabling higher-density, transit-oriented development.
In calling for a ‘new consensus’ on planning for 21st-century London, Khan rejected the idea that housebuilding and environmental protection were mutually exclusive. He urged environmental campaigners and developers to collaborate with City Hall to deliver both more homes and a greener city.
The announcement coincided with the launch of a public consultation to inform the next London Plan. This new framework will focus on solving the housing crisis, supporting sustainable economic growth, and enhancing the environment over the next 20 to 25 years.
Khan highlighted his administration’s track record, including record-breaking affordable housing delivery and the highest council housebuilding rates since the 1970s.
The mayor said: ‘The perception many people have is that the green belt is all beautiful countryside, green and pleasant land, rich with wildlife. The reality is very different. The green belt can often be low-quality land, poorly maintained and rarely enjoyed by Londoners. Only around 13 per cent is made up of parks and areas that the public can access.
‘So given the quality of parts of the London’s green belt and the extent of the housing crisis, I believe the status quo is wrong, out-of-date and simply unsustainable. Development on carefully chosen parts of the green belt – done in the right way – would allow us to unlock hundreds of thousands of good quality new homes for Londoners. This would not only go a long way to ending the housing crisis but provide a huge boost to our economy.
‘As Mayor, I’m not willing to ignore such a prospect just because it might be politically difficult – not when the life chances of the next generation of Londoners are on the line.’
He went on to defend his green credentials, saying: ‘I want to make clear that I remain proud to be the greenest Mayor London has ever had, and I don’t see what I’m announcing today as running contrary to this.
‘I can assure Londoners that we’ll attach the right conditions to any release of the green belt. Not only will we always make the best use of land, maximise the level of affordable housing and produce high-quality, energy-efficient homes with good transport connectivity, but we’ll ensure we increase biodiversity and public access to good quality green spaces.
‘I want to forge a new consensus on planning that’s fit for 21st century London, where we build the affordable housing we need – including on parts of the green belt – at the same time as increasing biodiversity and the amount of land that is genuinely green and accessible.’
Commenting on the announcement, Philip Allin, Director, Boyer (London) said: ‘Today’s announcement by the Mayor really has the potential to result in a significant step change in housing delivery, aligning with the approach now being taken elsewhere in the country.
‘There are numerous examples of under performing Green Belt in highly accessible locations that could now come forward for development as a result of this change, particularly in the outer London Boroughs. The key will be ensuring that the benefits of doing so are clearly articulated and delivered with buy-in from the London Boroughs, something that is no doubt easier said than done.’
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