Launching the Community Plan

At the beginning of March Liz Meek, the Regional Director for GOL, chaired the Successful Stakeholder Seminar for housing delivery in London.

Keith Hill, Minister for London, made the keynote speech to the audience that included representatives from local authorities, the Mayor's office and other partners such as the Local Government Association and the London Development Agency.

Keith Hill outlined the Government's sustainable communities plan and its application to London where high housing demand and limited supply are leading to high prices and a shortage of key workers.  He stressed the overriding need to see a step change in the supply of housing in London and the importance of a partnership approach to making this happen.  He went on to announce a £21million upgrade of the A206 Thames Road in Bexley, a project jointly funded by Transport for London and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Richard McCarthy, the Director General of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Sustainable Communities Delivery unit, then focussed on housing delivery and other infrastructure issues including adequate public transport and the role of local authorities and the private sector in providing adequate utilities and health care.

Afterwards Liz Meek commented:

`The day was extremely successful. London, like the rest of the South East, has a huge problem with house prices and housing shortages.  This was a good opportunity to discuss the challenges and successes with our partners in housing delivery and the way forward to meet these challenges.

`It was also an ideal opportunity for us to re-emphasise the Government's commitment to Sustainable Communities when providing the many homes and supporting facilities to house London's expanding population and business needs.'

Other speakers included Neale Coleman, Principal Advisor to the Mayor of London.