The Mayor of London is an enthusiastic supporter of two large regional rail projects. These initiatives are a critical step towards the city’s future housing production. Last year’s government Budget had no money for any of these projects. This major omission calls into question their eventual feasibility and their potential impact on advancing housing targets.
Hatch thinks that by extending the Bakerloo Line to Hayes, it will unlock building about 107,000 new homes. This perspective was shared by the Local Democracy Reporting Service. That projection highlights the role infrastructure improvements can play in spurring new housing development in our nation’s capital.
Tom Copley, a prominent figure in London’s housing strategy, emphasized that the next London Plan would incorporate the government’s request for increased housing. Across the pond in the UK, the government has committed to a very ambitious target of delivering 1.5 million new homes by 2029. As recently as this March Copley warned that they were on track to miss this target. This is particularly true if the necessary infrastructure, such as rail extensions, aren’t built.
“In order to actually get to that target, a lot of things have to happen,” said Copley, highlighting the interdependence of infrastructure and housing development.
As it stands, discussions are still happening behind closed doors between City Hall and Whitehall about the future of these rail projects. Not only does the mayor support the projects, but as Hatch has previously detailed, they’re likely to bring valuable benefits. Yet, no plans are in place to advance either project in the next few years. This confusion clouds the horizon for how quickly the government will meet their goals for more equitable housing.
The absence of these critical projects from the previous Budget signals a need for renewed discussions and planning to ensure that infrastructure can adequately support London’s growing population. Urbanization has been one of the largest development challenges. Stakeholders at every level need to work together to make sure that investments in transportation improvements address housing needs.
