Khan Reverses Policy on Green Belt for Housing

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced a significant policy reversal by actively considering the release of parts of the green belt for new housing, abandoning previous pledges to preserve the land. The plan includes launching a public consultation and aims to meet a new annual target of 88,000 homes, a substantial increase over past goals and actual delivery rates. Khan argues that many green belt areas are low-quality and underused, and that building on carefully selected sites—especially near existing transport infrastructure—could unlock hundreds of thousands of homes, including affordable units. The proposal is supported by Housing Secretary Angela Rayner but faces criticism from political opponents over the potential loss of green space. Khan has pledged that any development will include measures to enhance biodiversity and public access. The move is framed as essential to tackling London’s escalating housing crisis and improving prospects for future generations.