Sadiq Khan Hits Target Of 20,000 New Council Homes In Five Years

Hold on to your hats, folks, because we've got some news straight out of London that will knock your socks off! The mayor of this bustling metropolis, in a move that would make even the speediest rabbits jealous, has achieved his lofty goals a whole year ahead of schedule! Yes, you heard that right. The mayor set his sights on a monumental task back in 2018, and now he's proudly announcing his victorious triumph. Prepare to be amazed as we dive into the numbers. Over the past five years, London has witnessed the birth of a staggering 23,000 new council homes funded by City Hall. That's the equivalent of a mind-boggling 13 new council homes popping up every single day since 2018. But wait, there's more! More than 10,000 of these impressive homes were initiated in the past year alone. It seems like London has been channeling its inner construction superhero. The mayor cheekily pointed out that this year saw more council-built homes in the capital than any other year since the funky 1970s. London is strutting its stuff, folks, and it's building council housing at double the rate of the entire rest of England combined. Can you believe it? Apparently, the rest of England managed a measly 4,325 council homes in the same timeframe. Cue the dramatic gasps! Our good old mayor wasted no time in expressing his outrage at this "national scandal." He demanded that the government whip out their checkbooks and start a shiny new fund dedicated exclusively to funding council homes across the country. The man has got guts, I'll give him that! Now, it's time for the juicy details. More than 10,000 of the council homes started in London in the glorious year of 2022-23 received funding from the mayor himself. And guess what? All the London boroughs got in on the action too, proudly announcing the delivery of new council homes with the mayor's financial blessings. It's raining council homes in London, folks, and everybody's joining the party. Just this morning, the mayor, like a proud parent showing off their kid's art project, visited a dazzling scheme developed by Brent Council called Stonebridge Hillside. This impressive development boasts 22 magnificent four-bedroom houses and a whopping 51 flats, all set to be rented at social prices. Let the cheering commence! In a moment of triumph, Mr. Khan declared, "We've hit our ambitious target early!" And he's not stopping there, folks. This achievement is just one piece of his grand plan to create a better, fairer London for everyone. You go, mayor! Not one to hold back, Mr. Khan expressed his indignation at the rest of England, where council housebuilding seems to have come to a screeching halt. With the passion of a thousand fiery dragons, he called upon the ministers to wake up and smell the construction dust. His demand? Urgently establish a brand-new government fund solely committed to financing new council homes throughout the entire country. Talk about shaking things up! But hold on, folks, we're not done yet. Darren Rodwell, the executive member for regeneration, housing, and planning at London Councils, joined in the chorus of applause, hailing Mr. Khan's announcement as a cause for celebration. The boroughs are standing tall, working tirelessly to build the next generation of council homes across this magnificent city. The housing pressures may be immense, but they're determined to answer the cries of their communities. To put the cherry on top of this housing sundae, London Councils estimates that a whopping 166,000 Londoners, equivalent to the whole population of Oxford, are currently living in temporary accommodation or facing homelessness. It's a stark reminder