Boris Johnson is to scrap London’s target of making 50% of all new homes affordable and restrict new tall buildings in a reversal of some of predecessor Ken Livingstone’s core policies.

The shake-up of the London plan, the city’s statutory strategic planning document, is the fulfilment of a number of the mayor’s more contentious election pledges.

House builders will no longer be faced with such rigid affordable housing requirements, although the mayor says he is committed to building 50,000 affordable homes over the next three years. Instead of a London-wide target, the new approach will involve agreeing individual affordable housing targets with London boroughs.

London’s historic landmarks will also be given greater protection so they are not overshadowed by new skyscrapers. Johnson is determined to row back on his predecessor’s enthusiastic support for new tall buildings.

Financial Times