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London mayoral candidates outline housing plans


The main candidates in London's mayoral election have outlined their plans on housing issues. 

Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith said he had an "action plan for a Greater London, more homes, better transport, cleaner air and safer streets".

Goldsmith listed housing as a number one priority for the capital. He pledged to double "home building to 50,000 a year by 2020 and ensuring development is in keeping with the local area" following his 'Londoners first' rule.

Goldsmith proposes giving "Londoners the first chance to buy new homes built in London." In an article in the Daily Telegraph newspaper, Goldsmith argued he would " set a simple rule that any homes built on mayoral land – as many as 30,000 – will only be sold to Londoners – people who have lived or worked in London for at least three years and don’t already own a home." Goldsmith hopes this will "close the gap between supply and demand."

The Conservative candidate has also said that new transport links are required to "unlock brownfield sites". Goldsmith's transport plans include upgrading and expanding the rail network and delivering the night tubes. 

Labour Party candidate Sadiq Khan has also made several housing proposals. Khan plans to "set up a new team at City Hall dedicated to fast-tracking the building of genuinely affordable homes to rent and buy."

He will use the affordable homes budget to "support housing associations in their plans to ensure a minimum of 80,000 new homes a year."

The Labour candidate wants to set an affordable housing target at 50% for new developments and prioritise new homes to first-time buyers and local tenants. 

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