Title

WHITEHALL

Shelter calls for legal loophole closure

A legal loophole has allowed big developers in Kensington and Chelsea to avoid building more than 700 social homes.

A legal loophole has allowed big developers in Kensington and Chelsea to avoid building more than 700 social homes.

The homes would have been enough to house those made homeless by the Grenfell Tower fire.

New research by the homelessness charity Shelter found that housing developers used a ‘viability assessment' to argue they are unable to build homes because it would reduce their profit margins.

In Kensington and Chelsea, Shelter found the loophole was exploited by developers to reduce the amount of affordable housing from the council's policy target of 50% to only 15%.

Shelter chief executive, Polly Neate, said: ‘At a time when we desperately need more affordable homes, big developers are allowed to prioritise their profits by building luxury housing while backtracking on their promises to build a fair share of affordable homes.

‘The Government must make sure we treat affordable housing commitments as cast iron pledges, rather than optional extras, and act now to close the loophole that allows developers to wriggle out of building the affordable homes this country urgently needs.'

WHITEHALL

After the 'asylum hotels' injunction

By Victoria Searle | 02 September 2025

As the pressures facing local authorities in housing vulnerable people are brought to life in the ‘asylum hotel’ legal case in Epping Forest, Victoria Searle...

WHITEHALL

Solutions to stop homelessness

By Jack Shaw | 02 September 2025

Some councils are exploring more innovative ways of delivering the sustainable use of temporary accommodation, including through prevention, Test, Learn and ...

WHITEHALL

Coalition calls for planning law change

By Neil Merrick | 01 September 2025

Ministers have been urged to change the law to reduce the number of non-residential buildings turned into housing without planning permission.

WHITEHALL

Taking back control

By Emily Twinch | 27 August 2025

As the Government commits to insourcing as the best option for public services, Emily Twinch talks to sector experts about the advantages of bringing service...

Popular articles by William Eichler