HC Deb 10 July 2002 vol 388 cc1006-7W
Mr. Jenkins

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what progress has been made on providing key workers with affordable housing in central London; [66895]

(2) what measures are in place to help key workers find affordable housing in London. [66896]

Mr. McNulty

The Government recognise the importance of affordable housing for key workers in London in maintaining balanced and successful communities.

£146 million of the £250 million Starter Homes Initiative has been allocated to London schemes and will help around 4,600 key workers to realise their aspirations of home ownership. We hope that the initiative will act as a catalyst, and encourage other innovative approaches to housing key workers.

The NHS in London is providing 2,000 units of affordable rental accommodation for health staff in the three years up to June 2003.

London will receive £558 million of funding through the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme in 2002–03. This is a 7 per cent. improvement over last year and is expected to achieve a completion target of 7,000 affordable homes, of which almost 2,000 will be for low-cost ownership.

In addition we are fundamentally overhauling the planning system to make it more effective overall and more responsive to the community's affordable housing needs. We have established an Affordable Housing Unit to work closely with partners in regional and local authorities, professional housing managers, developers and others in the public sector, and identify how each can contribute to improving the delivery of affordable homes in both the social rented low-cost ownership sectors.

Mr. Jenkins

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of residential housing is planned to be(a) social housing and (b) housing for essential key workers in the proposed development of the Dome. [66894]

Mr. McNulty

Meridian Delta Ltd is currently working towards submission of a planning application for development of the Dome and land on the Greenwich peninsula, and the delivery of new housing, including social and key worker housing, will feature in its discussions with the planning authorities and other stakeholders. It would not be appropriate to speculate on the outcome of those discussions or of the planning process.