Writing for the MayorWatch website, Caroline Pidgeon discusses the beginning of the Metropolitan Police's sale of former police stations.
Caroline concludes:
Putting aside all my concerns about the closures of police stations and front counters this is my big issue with the police station sell off - that it’s happening in isolation from all of the Mayor’s promises about using the GLA’s land and assets to help solve London’s housing problems. In his recent 20:20 vision the Mayor said “the shortage of housing Londoners can afford” is “the gravest crisis the city faces”.
But in going to the open market, without any kind of plan for these sites, the risk is that these police sites formerly of community benefit will turn into luxury flats probably sold to foreign investors. When these buildings could be providing hundreds of affordable homes and new community or educational spaces – the current 27 police stations being sold could turn into about 650 affordable homes.
I asked the Mayor about using the police estate to deliver affordable housing and he said “where commercially viable, wider GLA priorities can be reflected in disposals”. Which I have to say is hardly a firm commitment and shows how once again the Mayor’s words and actions don’t match. He needs to use the land and buildings he owns to help address the crisis of the lack of affordable housing.
I won’t hold my breath.