Conservative mayor candidate pledges to increase transparency of viability assessments in his manifesto

Goldsmith has promised to increase the number of new homes to 50,000 a year by 2020 but "rejects indiscriminate affordability targets that would make it harder to build and ultimately drive up the cost of housing". Goldsmith argued that brownfield developments are often expensive to build as they require decontamination or construction of new infrastructure; meaning a blanket affordable homes target will not work for every site.

In the manifesto, the Conservative candidate promised to increase the transparency of viability assessments by "agreeing a standard of viability assessment with London Councils and requiring these viability assessments to be publicly published ahead of all planning decisions… A new team at City Hall will help local authorities interrogate these assessments". Goldsmith proposed to introduce a claw back mechanism for when viability improves.  

He also promised to amend the London Plan to accelerate the construction of new homes. He will "move to shorten the period before a housing development has to begin from three to two years" or "lobby the government to introduce an undeveloped land levy'". 

To further speed up the construction of new homes, Goldsmith pledged to "create a team of 'flying planners'". A common issue for local authorities is their lack of capacity to deal with planning applications. The newly created team will include planners, architects and surveyors to assist councils with any major planning applications.

The manifesto also includes plans to create a "mayor's mortgage" which will help first time buyers to purchase new homes off-plan.  It will give a nine month mortgage offer period which will allow buyers to cater for the time gap between exchange and completion.

Other proposals include supporting a competitive housing market and assisting smaller builders, securing transport links, ring-fencing homes on public sector land for Londoners, only progressing estate regeneration when residents support the redevelopment and promoting community involvement.