Housing and the future of the Green Belt
Catalyst Housing Group has been speaking alongside Sir Steve Bullock, Director of the Housing & Finance Institute and Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London at our round table looking at changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the impact that it may have on the creation of new homes.
Tom Titherington (pictured above) Executive Director, Property & Growth, Catalyst Housing Group remarked at the round table that the third runway extension to Heathrow is important as he says many of the Group's tenants who live in the borough of Ealing survive on airport-related jobs.
He also talked about the UK Government's housing policy and the possible impact on the Metropolitan Green Belt, describing how Catalyst had worked with local authorities to analyse land use. Tom felt strongly that releasing some of the green belt should be seen as a 're-provisioning of green spaces rather than a diminution'. Please see his video clip above.
Sir Steve Bullock retired as Mayor of Lewisham this year after serving four terms and has been serving as the London Councils' Executive Lead on Housing and also on the Mayor of London's Homes for Londoners Board.
During his time as mayor he increased the delivery of new housing in Lewisham and enabled the Council to begin building homes for rent again. During his final term, the council launched the innovative and cost-effective 'Ladywell Place' scheme (by Rogers Stirk Harbour) for temporary housing involving a volumetric construction method.
Sir Steve also talked about the Green Belt at our round table and warned that unless there was collaboration in the future between councils over sharing the burden of housing, Lewisham would see the demolition of existing good quality building to make way for new homes. See his video clip below: