Prescott would boost mayor's role

by Matt Ross, Regeneration & Renewal 22-Apr-05, 15:08

London mayor Ken Livingstone is set to win far greater powers over housing if Labour wins the election, deputy prime minister John Prescott signalled this week.

Speaking to Regeneration & Renewal, Prescott noted that, while housing, planning and transport strategies are being brought together regionally around the country, "Ken's saying he wants that in London, and I think he's probably got a point." He added: "What he wants to do is strategically say what the principles should be ... and there really isn't an argument as to why he shouldn't have that."

Last year, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister consulted on whether the mayor should take on responsibility for producing the London Housing Strategy, which determines levels of local housebuilding, and advising ministers on how funds from government regulator the Housing Corporation should be spent. In the rest of England, this work is done by the regional assemblies' housing boards, which are chaired by Whitehall's agents the government offices.

Prescott said: "If you want your housing (strategy) with your transport, your development, your industry, you need to have it on that larger base, so we have got in (the manifesto) that it's one of the changes we'll be considering. At the moment, Ken has the final planning say, but he has a hell of a battle with the boroughs. Some of the Tory ones don't want more social housing."

Labour's election manifesto pledges to "review the powers of the London mayor and the Greater London Assembly", leaving the door open for still further devolution.

Reacting to Prescott's comments, the mayor's office said that "bringing the housing strategy and investment within the mayor's powers would give greater coherence to policy making on housing in London and help ensure the London Plan's aims are delivered."

- Housing and Planning in the Regions is at www.regen.net/doc.