London Evening Standard
London
Boris Johnson and George Osborne yesterday unveiled plans for London to build 400,000 homes, create half a million jobs and outpace New York in the global growth race.
The pair put aside rivalries for the Tory leadership to unite behind a six-point blueprint to expand the population and wealth of the city where they grew up.
Their proposal was unveiled - with the razzmatazz of a Budget - at the Tate Modern, where a huge banner proclaimed it to be the “Long-Term Economic Plan for London”.
Critics said the homes target of 40,000 a year is too low for a city expanding to 11mn people by 2050, while unions attacked the plan as a “pre-election stunt”.
But it was the first time a mayor and chancellor have united round a long-term capital development plan, covering its transport, economy and cultural sector.
Key announcements included:
l Pitching London head-to-head with New York in a race for growth, with a £6.4bn expansion target for its economy by 2030 and a goal of 500,000 more jobs by 2020.
l Launching a new London Land Commission tasked with identifying and developing public-sector brownfield sites — aiming to deliver 400,000 homes by 2025.
l Setting up nine new housing zones, in locations ranging from Barking to Bexley and Harlow to Haringey, that will aim to “fast-track” 28,000 more homes by 2025.
l Extending 24-hour London Underground routes to more lines, expanding the new Routemaster bus fleet and providing more Wi-Fi on the Tube.
l Decisions on Crossrail 2 and other major schemes will be made later this year.
l Handing the mayor new powers over planning and skills.
l Future mayors would take over apprenticeship grants and have extra powers over constructions affecting London’s views and wharves.
But there was nothing on Johnson’s plea for mayors to keep business rates for infrastructure.
National Theatre director Sir Nicholas Hytner will work with promoters of a world-standard concert venue urged by Sir Simon Rattle. The Barbican Centre will take part in a feasibility study.
Council tenants eligible for the Right to Buy will be able to bid for council cash to help them buy a new home on the open market instead.
The chancellor warned: “There’s nothing inevitable about London growing. And if we want to see the current growth continue we have to solve London’s acute housing problem. We both say it is the No 1 challenge facing this city.”
Johnson said the announcements were “all huge wins for our city”