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GLA Data Show London Affordable Starts Slump, Leaving Big Shortfall to 2026 Target

City Hall faces a large gap to the programme goal despite new powers to cut developer quotas to 20%.

Overview

  • Only 1,239 affordable homes were started across London between April and September 2025, according to newly published GLA figures.
  • Since the programme was signed off in 2023, 6,370 starts have been recorded, leaving about 11,430 more needed before March 2026 to reach the 17,800–19,000 target.
  • Affordable completions fell to 2,904 in the first half of 2025/26, down sharply from 11,636 in 2024/25 and 10,949 the year before.
  • Five boroughs recorded no affordable starts in the period: the City of London, Hackney, Lambeth, Merton and Richmond, underscoring uneven delivery.
  • In response, ministers have allowed the mayor to lower developers’ affordable requirement from 35% to 20% until 2028 to try to accelerate building.