Further to your article on the establishment of a London board of the Home and Communities Agency (7 February, 黑洞社区.co.uk), the availability of affordable housing in the capital is one of the city鈥檚 most pressing issues.

Last week鈥檚 Housing Forum conference for London, which brought together about 80 people from across the housing sector, raised many issues in relation to government targets, both on volume and quality of housing, which no doubt the new board will be looking at.

It is clear there is a need for real partnership between the government and industry, not only to deliver homes, but to deliver quality family homes. There is also a need to focus on carbon reduction not only in the context of new-build homes, but in the context of refurbishment, which is especially important in cities such as London.

For the new London board to be successful, it must address these concerns alongside those of planning and environmental requirements, which many believe run counter to delivering the volume and quality of homes needed to address the city鈥檚 needs.

Shelagh Grant, chief executive, Housing Forum

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