Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz has joined a new taskforce that has been set up to tackle the challenges Covid-19 poses to the London housing sector.
The Covid-19 Housing Delivery Taskforce, chaired and convened by Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor for London (Housing and Residential Development), is made up of leaders from across London’s housing delivery sector. This includes selected councils, construction bodies, unions, and housing associations. The taskforce will aim to speak with a shared voice on behalf of London’s house-building partners to tackle the challenges ahead.
Mayor Fiaz said: “I am grateful for the opportunity to join this important taskforce alongside Deputy Mayor Tom Copley and other colleagues, to play a part in the recovery of the home-building sector in Newham and across the capital.
“The immediate priority, as the building industry moves into the recovery phase, will be to ensure the safety and health of construction workers and residents. It is important that the taskforce uses its influence to ensure contractors are working to clear guidance on social distancing and consider how and when builders should be travelling to work.”
Newham Council currently has more than 4,000 homes under construction with 17,500 in the planning pipeline by 2024. The Council’s development arm, Red Door Ventures, has been reconfigured to make sure it delivers on the priority of Mayor Fiaz to deliver affordable quality homes.
Mayor Fiaz added: “I will also be making it clear to the taskforce that affordability and quality of new homes for Newham residents, many of whom are key workers, is not up for negotiation. It is important therefore that we work with the developers, the Greater London Authority and the Government, to direct public investment to make sure that these priorities are delivered.”