London mayor Sadiq Khan has thanked councils and housing associations of the capital for delivering an increase in affordable housing starts, an unprecedented range of economic challenges notwithstanding.
According to new figures from City Hall released on Monday (13), 3,698 homes funded through the mayor’s Affordable Homes Programme were started from September to December last year.
These took the total number of starts for the financial year to date to 6,877, which is a more than 50 per cent rise on the total number of homes built by this point last year when Khan went on to achieve the highest number of starts since City Hall records began.
It was also revealed that 5,360 genuinely affordable homes were completed in the year till the end of December, nearly 900 more than in the same period last year.
These figures have been delivered despite the ongoing disruption and delays caused to the construction industry by the combined effects of the pandemic, Brexit, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which have disrupted supply chains, led to labour shortage and soaring construction costs.
Government data showed that the cost of construction materials rose by 11 per cent between December 2021-2022, and are up 42 per cent since January 2020.
The government’s ‘mini budget’ last Autumn also contributed to higher mortgage costs, dampening buyers' demand for new-build homes.
Homebuilding statistics are always back-weighted with an increased number of starts in the spring.
To be ahead of last year’s record-breaking totals at this stage is a testament to the hard work and dedication of London’s councils and housing bodies buying into the mayor’s ambitious vision to deliver the homes Londoners so desperately need, a press release from his office said.
The building of genuinely affordable homes is now underway across London with every borough reporting new starts in the last financial year.
These latest figures are part of a huge increase in council and affordable housebuilding under Khan. Last year, council homebuilding hit the highest level since the 1970s, while the overall affordable housebuilding was more than double the level achieved in the previous mayor’s final year.
Nearly 10,000 homes started in the previous financial year are at social rent levels – the highest annual figure in the last decade.
“Despite strong economic and political headwinds battering the construction sector, we are once again showing that we can and will put Londoners first by building the genuinely affordable homes they so desperately need," Khan said.
“Since I became mayor, council homebuilding in London has hit its highest levels since the 1970s and overall affordable housebuilding is at the highest level since City Hall records began.
“I would like to thank London’s councils, housing associations and our capital’s wider housing sector for their efforts in helping us to continue building a better, fairer London for everyone.
“However, in order to continue making progress the Government must now provide the additional funding we need to safeguard housing delivery in the capital.”
Geeta Nanda OBE, G15 Chair and chief executive of Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing, a leading housing association, said, “Not-for-profit housing associations are working hard to deliver the genuinely affordable homes London needs, alongside investing around £1billion each year in the existing homes we provide.
"The latest figures on the delivery of new homes are a testament to the commitment we have to tackling the housing crisis, and the strong partnerships we rely on with the mayor and local authorities across the city. There is no doubting the massive challenges providers face, such as rising costs and challenges like building safety. That’s why it’s important that the government continues to support the building of much-needed genuinely affordable homes in London, and across the country.”
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)