London’s Deputy Mayor states the city cannot meet its annual 88,000 new homes target without the Bakerloo Line extension and other infrastructure projects
London’s Housing Target Depends on Rail Projects
London will struggle to build its target of 88,000 new homes each year for the next decade unless two major rail projects are approved, according to the Deputy Mayor for Housing.
Tom Copley stated that the next London Plan will consider the government’s request. This request is part of a broader goal for 1.5 million new homes in the UK by 2029. However, the target may not be met without sufficient infrastructure.
During a meeting with the London Assembly Budget and Performance Committee, he emphasized that a “huge amount of infrastructure and funding” is necessary to achieve the 88,000 homes.
This includes the DLR extension, which Chancellor Rachel Reeves supported at November’s Budget. This extension could enable up to 30,000 new homes between Beckton Riverside and Thamesmead.
He urged ministers to support the Bakerloo Line extension from Elephant & Castle into South London and the proposed West London Orbital connecting North and West London.
He explained, “We’re going to be planning for 880,000 homes over the next 10 years. But to be clear, the London plan is not a delivery plan. It’s a spatial development strategy. So we’re gonna be planning the homes that we need.”
He added, “But we’re also very, very clear that in order to actually get to that target, a lot of things have to happen. The DLR extension, which I mentioned, is very, very important.”
“We also need a Bakerloo Line extension, the West London Orbital. We need a huge amount of infrastructure and a huge amount of funding in order to be able to get to that 88,000 figure.”
Independent analysis from consulting firm Hatch suggests that 107,000 new homes could be unlocked along the Bakerloo Line if it is extended to Hayes in the southeast.
The West London Orbital, which would run from Hendon and West Hampstead to Hounslow, could help deliver up to 15,800 new homes.
Despite both projects being supported by the Mayor of London, there was no mention of either in last year’s Autumn Budget. Conversations are ongoing between City Hall and Whitehall, but there are no plans to approve either project in the coming years.
Mr. Copley also reiterated that the target cannot be met without building on green belt land. However, he could not provide an estimate for the proportion of new homes that would need to be constructed on this protected land.
Summary of Key Points
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Annual Housing Target | 88,000 new homes |
| Time Frame | Next decade |
| Government’s UK Housing Goal | 1.5 million homes by 2029 |
| DLR Extension Potential Homes | 30,000 homes |
| Bakerloo Line Extension Potential Homes | 107,000 homes |
| West London Orbital Potential Homes | 15,800 homes |
