← Back to Westminster Hall Debates
House Building: London
05 November 2025
Lead MP
Louie French
Old Bexley and Sidcup
Con
Responding Minister
Matthew Pennycook
Tags
Housing
Word Count: 15006
Other Contributors: 15
At a Glance
Louie French raised concerns about house building: london in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The government should recognise the need to support brownfield regeneration and protect green spaces, and address the unviability created by Sadiq Khan’s affordable homes target.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Construction began on only 3,248 homes in the first nine months of 2025. Molior London predicts just 9,100 homes will be built across 2027 and 2028 - under 5% of the Government’s target for London. The Mayor of London's London plan has made it more complex and expensive to build in London with policies that add costs and restrict development.
Andy Slaughter
Lab
Hammersmith
Disagreed with the hon. Member’s speech, pointing out that under Conservative councils and government permitted development rights, commercial property could be converted into residential without affordable housing.
Apsana Begum
Lab
Poplar and Limehouse
Welcomed the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 but expressed concern over changes to affordable housing delivery in London, arguing that reducing the requirement from 35% to 20% will exacerbate the housing crisis.
Bob Blackman
Con
Harrow East
He highlighted that lowering targets for affordable housing could exacerbate the housing crisis, with over 70,000 households in temporary accommodation and a daily cost of £5 million to London authorities. Asked if the new standards apply to planning applications already in the pipeline.
Meg Hillier
Lab/Co-op
Hackney South and Shoreditch
She questioned how to address overseas sales of properties in London and the issue of foreign landlords not visiting their property, which she argued undermines claims that housing benefit is a necessity for those living in such developments. She congratulated the debate's sponsor and echoed concerns about extreme house prices in some areas and intolerable homelessness situations with thousands on waiting lists, welcoming government plans to build more homes.
Danny Beales
Lab
Uxbridge and South Ruislip
He emphasised the urgent need for housing, citing one in 50 Londoners being in temporary accommodation. He also discussed financial impacts on local authorities like Hillingdon, where only £80 million of homes were started in 2024-25. Challenges the presentation of public opinion through planning committees, noting that voices against development are often disproportionately against new housing despite support for building to solve the crisis.
Emily Thornberry
Lab
Islington South and Finsbury
She congratulated Mr French for initiating the debate and noted the urgency of addressing the housing crisis, particularly with over 336,000 households on social waiting lists. She shared personal experience growing up in social housing and expressed concern about the current system's inability to provide adequate support, highlighting financial strains on local authorities. Asked if she could speak, but was not given an opportunity due to time constraints. Asked about specific applications like the Barnsbury estate and the impact of reduced CIL money on Moorfields site.
Fleur Anderson
Lab
Putney
Defended Sadiq Khan's record on house building, noting an average of 10,000 more new homes completed a year compared to Boris Johnson's mayoralty.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Stressed the importance of addressing affordable housing provision for older couples downsizing and wanting to live in suitable areas.
Luke Taylor
LD
Sutton and Cheam
Argues against measures announced by the Mayor of London and Housing Secretary, stating they will not solve the housing crisis but worsen it. Highlights the need for innovation in addressing safe, green, and affordable homes.
Greenwich and Woolwich
Responded that there will be a consultation on specifics, and detailed the time-limited planning route for schemes delivering at least 20% affordable housing with grant funding available for homes above the first 10%.
not specified constituency
Supports the idea of redeveloping public sector sites for housing and mentions her amendment to ensure that disused police stations can be repurposed for GP surgeries and social housing. Supports Luke Taylor's view that the measures announced reward developers and do not incentivise them properly, citing an example of potential loss of CIL money in Richmond. Questions whether the mayor’s intervention slows down development, citing an example of Stag brewery in Mortlake.
Neil Coyle
Lab
Bermondsey and Old Southwark
Highlighted the completion of Greater London Authority-funded affordable starts in his borough since 2016, contradicting Mr French’s statements about house building unviability.
Peter Fortune
Con
Bromley and Biggin Hill
Mr. Fortune criticises the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, for failing to deliver on promises to build more homes despite receiving nearly £9 billion in funding and having strategic planning powers. Pointed out that 80% of housing developments in London received planning permission under Boris Johnson’s plan rather than Sadiq Khan’s.
Rachel Blake
Lab/Co-op
Cities of London and Westminster
Asked the hon. Gentleman about his experience in local government regarding affordable council homes delivery, highlighting the need for finance and real delivery focus. Commends the analysis despite disagreement, highlights the cost of temporary accommodation at £5 million daily in her constituency. Calls for stable rent-setting system and immediate buy-backs to solve inner London's housing crisis.
Wendy Morton
Con
Aldridge-Brownhills
Emphasised the need for a brownfield-first approach to housing that would protect green belts surrounding towns and cities. Agrees with the importance of grey belt development but emphasises the need for clearer definitions to prevent greenfield land from being wrongly classified.
Government Response
Matthew Pennycook
The Minister for Housing and Planning
Government Response
Concludes by thanking Mr French for securing the debate, acknowledges the contributions made by other hon. Members, welcomes the shadow Housing Minister to his place, and appreciates the kind words about him. Responded to questions regarding the new emergency measures, emphasising that there will be consultation on specifics. Detailed the time-limited planning route for schemes delivering at least 20% affordable housing with grant funding available for homes above the first 10%. Stressed the importance of communities benefiting from improved market conditions and highlighted Islington's need to respond quickly to the crisis. Announces a £322 million fund to support housebuilding in London, expands on the success of the mayor’s land fund which has delivered 8,000 homes ahead of schedule. Explains that section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act will be clarified so that applications should not be used as an alternative means of reconsidering scheme viability or planning obligations.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.