London housebuilding struggles to get off the ground

Government data shows London had the lowest rate of new home starts in England last year, with just 1.04 per thousand existing dwellings - a 73% drop from the year before - fuelling concerns over the capital's housing shortage. While 32,000 net additional dwellings were created, the low number of new starts suggests output will fall sharply next year, with only 347 affordable homes begun in the first quarter of this year. Nationally, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to build 300,000 homes annually, but analysis by Britain Remade indicates the government is on course to deliver barely half that figure. The think tank also highlighted London boroughs as among the worst-performing areas, citing Islington, where developers sought permission for just 67 homes against a target increase of more than 1,200. 

The times (16/08/2025)