A High Court Judge has backed 'affordable' housing proposals by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.

A legal challenge was brought by retirement homes developers McCarthy and Stone, Pegasus Life, Churchill Retirement Living and Renaissance Retirement against the Mayor's 'threshold' approach to development, which allows schemes to be fast tracked through the planning system where they provide at least 35% 'affordable' housing.

The developers argued that this policy, contained within the Mayor's Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) on Affordable Housing and Viability, would fail to secure the maximum reasonable level of 'affordable' housing

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However, the Hon Mr Justice Ouseley ruled that the Mayor's approach is consistent with the adopted London Plan.

In addition, he also rejected claims that the guidance should have been the subject of Strategic Environmental Assessment and found that the claims that the Mayor had failed to have due regard to his duties under the public sector equality duty of the Equality Act 2010 were unarguable.

Jules Pipe, Deputy Mayor for Planning, Skills and Regeneration, said: "Tackling the capital's housing crisis is the Mayor's top priority and this ruling is an important moment for thousands of Londoners who are desperate for genuinely affordable homes to rent and buy.

"Our guidance sets out a clear approach that makes the planning system in London clearer, quicker and more consistent. I am pleased that the Judge has backed this approach which will help us to turn around years of neglect when it comes to building the homes Londoners so desperately need."

(LM/MH)