Urban Forecast Labour’s Housing Delivery Crisis: Planning isn’t the Problem
In this episode of Urban Forecast, hosts Oli Lowrie and Jon Ackroyd dive into the outcomes and mood from the Labour Party Conference, exploring what it all means for the future of housing and planning in London. With housebuilding figures falling far short of targets, they discuss why planning reform hasn't been delivered, what could unlock development, and whether Labour will be bold enough to make the radical changes needed. From viability challenges to Sadiq Khan’s 35% affordable housing threshold and the Building Safety Act backlog, Oli and Jon dissect the numbers, policies and political realities shaping the UK’s urban future.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
London is on track to deliver just 5,000 homes against a target of 88,000, with £5.5 million spent on homelessness - signalling a housing crisis at breaking point.
Planning isn’t the main barrier; it’s viability. Over 280,000 homes have planning permission but aren’t being built because the numbers don’t stack up.
The 35% affordable housing requirement is under review, with Labour potentially open to temporarily lowering it to kick-start stalled projects.
Some councils are sitting on huge Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funds that could be redirected to make schemes viable or support affordable housing.
Sadiq Khan appears reluctant to move first on policy changes without central government backing - a sign of political tension between City Hall and Westminster.
The Building Safety Act remains a bottleneck, with approval times up to 48 weeks, though new leadership promises to cut this to nearer 12.
Labour faces a “make or break” moment to deliver growth and housing or risk losing public confidence before the next election.
The hosts argue that scaling back affordable thresholds now could deliver far more homes overall, benefiting the economy and the Treasury in the long run.
BEST MOMENTS
“Thirty-five percent of nothing is nothing.”
“If you want to get housing moving in London, you’ve got to do something about viability.”
“Ten percent of 88,000 homes is a hell of a lot more than 35 percent of 5,000.”
“We’re at crunch time now. Is this government going to be bold enough to do something real?”
VALUABLE RESOURCES
https://www.ackroydlowrie.com
EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT
The Future of the City of London with Tom Sleigh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx6bNuRrMYE
Engineering a Greener Future with Steve Webb
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHIfzm-aMZA
ABOUT THE HOSTS
Jon Ackroyd and Oliver Lowrie, the visionary hosts of Urban Forecast, bring their expertise from leading their innovative practice, Ackroyd Lowrie. Known for pushing the boundaries in urban design, Jon and Oliver use their podcast to delve into the future of cities, sharing insights from their work on projects that emphasise sustainability, community, and transformative architecture. Through Urban Forecast, they engage listeners with discussions on how architecture and design shape urban living, aiming to inspire new ways of thinking about the spaces around us.
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