Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced plans to build tens of thousands of new homes on green belt land despite his previous opposition to green belt developments.

In a speech outlining the next London Plan, the Mayor declared City Hall’s aim to build on parts of London’s green belt, in a bid to overcome the ‘extraordinary challenge’ of the housing crisis.

According to Mayor Khan, nearly a million homes within the next decade, or 88,000 properties each year, are required to accommodate those affected by the lack of affordable housing, which has seen more than 90,000 children become homeless.

While he has previously opposed the idea of building on the green belt, the Mayor said it would be impossible to meet the demand for housing by building exclusively on previously developed areas, or ‘brownfield’ sites.

He argued that parts of the green belt consist of equally decrepit land which is ‘poorly maintained and rarely enjoyed by Londoners.’

Angela Rayner, Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary remarked: ‘We cannot end the housing crisis and build the 1.5 million homes we need without London being ambitious in its approach. […] The Mayor of London has our backing to deliver the housing this city needs, in line with our ambition nationally, to unlock the dream of a secure home for a generation.’

Addressing concerns about the environmental impact of the London Plan, the Mayor provided reassurance that the green belt will be released under the ‘right conditions’, with a view to nurture the biodiversity and existing green spaces in London.

The chair of London Councils, Cllr Claire Holland, added: ‘We look forward to helping inform the development of the new London Plan to achieve this goal and ensure that it meets the needs of our local communities.’