Festus Akinbusoye proposes subsidised housing for London key workers

Tory mayoral hopeful Festus Akinbusoye has put forward plans to provide subsidised housing for Metropolitan Police officers and other essential workers in London. Mr Akinbusoye, a councillor in Westminster and former Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner, stated that high rental costs are forcing key workers to leave the capital or preventing them from starting families in the city.

Under the proposed policy, key workers could receive subsidised accommodation for the initial three years of their employment. This period is intended to help individuals establish themselves during the early stages of their careers when salaries may be lower. Mr Akinbusoye suggested that after three years, workers should be able to afford market rates as their income increases.

Housing Delivery Unit and Targets

To implement this policy, Mr Akinbusoye plans to create a dedicated housing delivery unit within City Hall. This unit would collaborate with developers and other stakeholders to facilitate the construction of the proposed properties. He believes this approach is necessary to ensure that police officers, nurses, teachers, and other vital staff can afford to live in London.

Furthermore, Mr Akinbusoye has indicated his intention to abolish existing affordable housing targets for new developments. He argues that these targets discourage developers and worsen the city's housing shortage. Instead, he proposes that the allocation of affordable housing for each development should be evaluated individually on a case-by-case basis.

Mr Akinbusoye is competing to be the Conservative candidate for Mayor of London in the 2028 election. The selection process is ongoing, with a final candidate expected to be chosen in December.