New peak of 38,000 homes gridlocked by Government “foot-dragging” on second staircases

The Government is blocking housebuilding in London, says Assembly Member Sakina Sheikh, following new figures showing that the construction of at least 38,000 new homes have been halted because of Government failing to clarify fire safety rules.

Ministers require all new buildings in England over 18m to have two staircases to provide a second escape route in emergencies. New buildings, however, are not being started because the guidance has not been issued by Government. Ministers promised to deliver the guidance developers need to adhere to the new rules by Autumn 2023, but nothing has been published.

The 38,000 homes represent a jump of 4,000 since last year, when 34,000 homes had been caught up in the Government’s delay.

These figures only apply to major planning applications that are referrable to City Hall. New buildings overseen by councils or other planning authorities are not counted, meaning that the true figure of new homes delayed is likely much higher.

While Assembly Member Sheikh welcomes the Government’s commitment to ensuring that buildings over 18m have a second staircase, she has voiced concerns over the delay causing a backlog of new homes in London. Without a guarantee of future timelines, thousands of new homes are being stuck in the planning system.

Staircases provide emergency exits for residents and are the route through which fire brigade search and rescue operations are conducted. Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the Government first announced plans requiring new buildings to have at least two staircases in 2022. Ministers later confirmed that new requirement would apply over 18m in July 2023, promising to issue guidance by Autumn 2023.

The new figures follow data showing that since Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, was elected, London has achieved a rate of housing completions that’s 20% higher than the rest of the country, effectively costing areas outside of London 317,000 new homes. Regardless of this success, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has attacked the Mayor on housebuilding and threatened to take away some of his planning powers.

The London Assembly also found that the Mayor’s Affordable Housing Programme, which delivers social and affordable housing for Londoners, is on track to meet its target of 116,000 homes in November last year.

London Assembly Labour spokesperson for planning, Sakina Sheikh AM, said:

“The housing crisis is bad enough without the Government making it worse. It’s not good enough that they’re missing their own deadlines for the rules new schemes need.

“Buildings over 18m should have a second staircase to allow residents to get out safely in an emergency. The uncertainty the delay is causing, however, means Londoners are seeing the homes they need get stuck in the planning system.

“It’s unbelievable that Ministers have the gall to criticise others’ housebuilding efforts when they are preventing new homes being built for Londoners.”