Up Front
Mayor calls for developer levy to fund building safety Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is to fund the creation of 903 new longer-term homes for homeless Londoners. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has called for a ground-breaking levy on major private property developers that could raise £3 billion to address the inequality in building safety standards and fund vital cladding replacement work on properties across London. The mayor said the failure of government, developers and building owners to fund this essential work for all means that too many residents face extortionate bills to rectify unsafe homes, with ministers failing to bring forward a solution to the crisis. The mayor is proposing a one-off levy on developer profits generated over the last decade to fund the essential fire safety work that is needed. City Hall analysis of accounts data for publicly listed housebuilders has revealed pre-tax profits of £30 billion over the last decade. A 10% levy would raise at least £3 billion to carry out remediation work and help ensure no leaseholder is left out of pocket. To ensure the levy is paid in full without impacting future development, Sadiq Khan is proposing that repayment could occur over several years. Government could then act quickly to fund building safety work, with the reassurance that funds from the levy would cover the costs. Sadiq Khan said: “I have always been clear that the responsibility for funding building safety work must lie with government. However, we cannot deny the role that industry has played in making decisions that have compromised the safety of buildings.
London hits electric vehicle charging points milestone
Three hundred more electric vehicle rapid charging points have been installed across the capital by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and Transport for London (TfL) – increasing London’s total number of charging points to almost 6,000. London now has more than 500 rapid charging points and more than 5,500 residential charging points, with some points dedicated exclusively for almost 4,000 electric taxis operating in the capital. Working with bp pulse and ESB Energy as the charging point operators, TfL met its target to install 300 rapid charging points by the end of December, despite works being paused from April to June last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes the first rapid charging hub in London at Stratford International car park with six charging points. Two further hubs are planned at Baynard House, City of London, which will have six rapid charge points and at Glass Yard, Greenwich, with eight rapid charge points.
Sadiq Khan said: “It’s essential we help more people move away from petrol and diesel cars to tackle the twin dangers of air pollution and the climate emergency. “I’m delighted that 300 more electric vehicle rapid charging points have been installed by TfL, increasing London’s total electric charging points to almost 6,000. This success is testament to our partners in the private sector who have stepped up and shown real ambition to help London lead the electric vehicle revolution. “However, there is much more to do and we need to go even further and even faster, which is why in October this year I am expanding the Ultra Low Emission Zone up to the North and South Circular roads.” Alex Williams, TfL’s director of city planning, said: “Rapid charging points will play a key part in decarbonising transport and the shift to cleaner vehicles.”
Mayor calls for more financial support for businesses The government has announced a further raft of financial support measures to help businesses through the latest national lockdown.
“I am determined to find a solution that can make homes safe without passing on the burden of the cost to leaseholders – it is wrong for them to bear the costs of historic errors they have played no part in causing. This levy would have a minimal impact on developer profits but would prove lifechanging for London leaseholders.”
6 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY
England went into its third lockdown in early January as coronavirus cases soared and hospitals came under intense pressure. With all non-essential businesses forced to close once again, the government unveiled a £4.6 billion package of support which included one-off grants worth up to £9,000 for businesses in the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors. There was also a £594 million discretionary fund to support other businesses impacted by the latest lockdown. This support is in addition to business rates relief and the furlough scheme, which has been extended until the end of April. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I welcome this announcement of much-needed additional support, which business groups and I have been calling for. It should have come sooner and it won’t replace
the revenue lost over the vital Christmas period, but it should help many struggling retail, hospitality and leisure businesses stay afloat until spring. “Clearly more help is needed – including an extension to the business rates holiday and the VAT relief scheme, targeted support for night-time economy businesses which have been forced to stay shut since March, and more support for those who are self-isolating. “I’m also urging the Chancellor to act swiftly and guarantee the furlough scheme will continue to protect people’s jobs until the vaccine is rolled out widely and restrictions are lifted. “It’s scandalous that there are three million excluded selfemployed people who continue to be ignored, many of whom are left facing the impact of these tougher restrictions alone.”
