Mayor of London Boris Johnson has taken the first steps towards removing the 50% London wide affordable housing target.

He has opened negotiations with London boroughs to agree an alternative programme of 50,000 new affordable homes across the city over the next three years.

Instead of imposing the 50% target across the city, the Greater London Authority (GLA) will work with every London borough to agree individual targets for the number of affordable homes they will deliver.

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Adam Sampson, Chief Executive of Shelter, said: "Despite his commitment to build 50,000 more affordable homes in the next three years, the Mayor's announcement to remove the 50 per cent target could jeopardise the long term delivery of those much needed homes.

"London has nearly 54,000 households trapped in temporary accommodation and 334,000 households on the council's housing waiting list, therefore the need for more affordable homes is greater than ever.

"The Mayor must step up his game and work hard with local authorities to ensure enough affordable homes are delivered to help those at the sharp end of the housing crisis."

(CD/JM)