I was delighted to attend the event with the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan in celebration of this huge milestone.
These homes are sure to bring much-needed relief for many who are struggling under the weight of the cost of living, including soaring rent prices.
I know just how important permanent homes are for the wellbeing of residents, keeping many close to family members.
New affordable homes also reduce the taxpayer’s bill for temporary accommodation, making way for money to go towards other services too.
Rising rents has made the living circumstances for thousands of Londoners’ unstable in recent years.
This is why the mayor’s recent announcement of rent-controlled affordable homes for key workers is such a necessary step to bring security to many during these financially uncertain times.
This is in addition to the national government announcement to cap leasehold ground rents at £250, adding another key protection against the rising costs for many Londoners who are, on average, paying over £400 per year on these charges.
I also want to recognise the vital work being done to protect the mental health of young people across London.
It was a pleasure to visit Gladesmore Community School in Tottenham, one of the 16 secondary schools across London included in the mayor’s new Mental Health in Schools project, to see this vital work in practice.
This is alongside the Mayor’s Mental Health Training Pilot which backs over 1,000 mentors in developing the skills needed to assist schools and young professionals to support wellbeing.
This investment is crucial, not only in supporting young Londoners today, but in strengthening the health and resilience of our communities for the future.
Alongside this, I also met with Transport for London (TfL), together with residents from the Archway Road Action Group, to discuss plans for much-needed safety improvements in Archway Road.
Residents have long raised concerns about the frequency of collisions on this stretch of road, so it was reassuring to hear that a TfL consultation will be going live imminently, with new safety measures being a key focus.
Once the consultation is live, please respond to have your voices heard.
- Joanne McCartney is London Assembly member for Enfield and Haringey.
