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Building on poor quality green belt would help solve housing crisis says business survey

Monday 16 April 2018

Building on poor quality green belt would help solve housing crisis says business survey.

A majority of businesses say that building new homes on poor quality, disused or derelict green belt land (67%) would be effective in helping to address London’s housing needs according to a major new research published today.

The new survey of more than 500 businesses in the capital by ComRes (on behalf of London Chamber of Commerce and Industry) found the high level of support among both small and large businesses.

The polling also showed a similar level of support from businesses in inner London (67%) and outer London (64%).

Last December LCCI launched its Brown for Blue report calling on the Mayor of London to use utilise ‘brownspace’ within the Metropolitan Green Belt in London to support housing for London’s emergency services workers – so they can actually live within the capital they serve.

Looking towards the review of the London Plan, LCCI commissioned an extensive mapping of ‘brownspace’ throughout those parts off London within the Metropolitan Green Belt and identified derelict and underdeveloped land equivalent to 500 football pitches with the potential for around 20,000 homes.

Chief Executive of LCCI, Colin Stanbridge said: “We all need to accept that the Green Belt is not all lush rolling fields, but there are areas where the land it is derelict or disused.

“Business people are being realistic about what needs to be done.

“A lack of affordable housing is consistently one of the biggest barriers to recruitment and retention. We have to look at some of the measures that might not seem easy or popular at first and take some brave and bold steps before the housing crisis does real damage to the economy.”

ENDS

Media contact

Katharine Barney

T: +44 (0)20 7203 1897

M: +44 (0)7827 241528

E: kbarney@londonchamber.co.uk

NOTES TO EDITOR:

  1. London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) is the capital’s largest and most representative business organisation, with members ranging in size from multi-national companies to SMEs and sole traders.
  2. Colin Stanbridge, Chief Executive is available for further comment and interview.
  3. ComRes online survey for LCCI of 561 London business leaders, weighted to be representative of all London businesses by company size and broad industry sector. Fieldwork took place between the 15 February and 15 March 2018. Full data tables can be found at www.comresglobal.com
  4. Read the full LCCI Brown for Blue report here.