London Mayor Sadiq Khan has taken a bold step towards addressing the capital's severe housing crisis by announcing plans to explore the release of parts of London’s greenbelt for housing and industrial development. Speaking in Greenwich on May 9, 2025, Khan emphasized that the city’s failure to meet housing targets is causing "pervasive and profound" damage, particularly affecting young people and families.
In his address, Khan outlined a daunting need for 88,000 new homes annually over the next decade, a building rate not seen since the 1930s. He stated, "We clearly face an extraordinary challenge. As mayor, I'm determined to give it everything we've got – with a radical step-change in our approach." Khan's comments reflect a growing urgency as the city grapples with a housing crisis that has reached unprecedented levels.
Today also marks the launch of a consultation on the next version of the London Plan, which will focus on the urgent need for housing solutions. The document indicates that new industrial designations in low-quality parts of the greenbelt will be considered to offset the release of brownfield land for new homes elsewhere. Furthermore, it proposes to clarify the distinction between Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) and greenbelt, aiming to protect MOL from being reviewed for development.
Khan assured that any release of greenbelt land would come with strict conditions, including the requirement for high levels of affordable housing, energy-efficient designs, and biodiversity enhancements. He appealed to environmental groups, noting that only about 13 percent of London’s greenbelt is publicly accessible and much of it is "poorly maintained." Khan urged developers and campaigners to collaborate in making the greenbelt greener while also providing new housing.
The mayor's announcement has garnered support from various political figures, including Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who praised Khan’s ambition to deliver homes where they are most needed. Rayner highlighted that the government supports the construction of 1.5 million homes nationally over the next parliament, emphasizing that London must adopt an ambitious approach to tackle its housing crisis.
London Councils chair Claire Holland echoed this sentiment, stating that boroughs are "resolutely pro-housebuilding" and are prepared to support the development of the new plan. Other endorsements have come from Vauxhall MP Florence Eshalomi and Generation Rent chief executive Ben Twomey, who noted that the proposal could protect Londoners from the high costs of renting that have driven many into poverty and homelessness.
However, the announcement has not been without controversy. Nature campaigners have expressed concerns that the plans could result in the loss of valuable parks and green spaces, which are already scarce in some areas. Roger Mortlock, chief executive of the countryside charity CPRE, argued that the solution to the housing crisis should not involve building on local parks and farmland but rather transforming the housing market to hold developers accountable for delivering social and genuinely affordable homes.
Khan acknowledged the conflicting views but called on Londoners to "keep an open mind" and engage with the evidence surrounding the housing crisis. He painted a stark picture of the current situation, stating, "We have young professionals stuck living in their childhood bedrooms for years on end; Londoners having to endure cold, damp accommodation that isn’t fit for human habitation; couples reluctantly moving out of the capital to start a family; and London primary schools closing because young families have been priced out of the area. It breaks my heart. The damage the housing crisis is causing is pervasive and profound. We simply cannot let it continue."
This shift in policy represents a significant departure from previous approaches to housing in London, marking the first time City Hall will actively support the strategic release of low-quality or inaccessible greenbelt land near transport links to facilitate the construction of hundreds of thousands of new affordable homes. Khan reaffirmed his commitment to prioritizing development on brownfield sites but stressed that this alone will not suffice to meet the urgent housing needs of the capital.
The mayor's proposals will be part of a broader consultation on the next London Plan, which aims to outline a vision for the capital's development over the next 20 to 25 years. City Hall has initiated a city-wide greenbelt review, aligning with government mandates to explore all options for accommodating the housing demands across London.
As the consultation, titled "Towards a New London Plan," opens for public responses until June 22, 2025, it is clear that the discussions surrounding the future of London’s greenbelt will be contentious. The mayor's call for collaboration between environmentalists and developers highlights the complexity of balancing housing needs with the preservation of green spaces.
Ultimately, Khan's approach reflects a growing recognition that the status quo is no longer tenable. As he aptly put it, "The status quo is wrong, out-of-date, and simply unsustainable." With the stakes so high, the coming months will be critical in determining how London navigates its housing crisis while striving to maintain its green spaces.
The future of London’s housing policy hangs in the balance as stakeholders from various sectors weigh in on the proposed changes. Whether this bold initiative will lead to the much-needed transformation in London’s housing landscape remains to be seen.
