The Green Party launches a London campaign accusing Labour of cosy ties with developers and pledges policies such as rent controls and abolition of leasehold, as housing starts and completions fall
The Green Party has opened its local election campaign in London with leader Zack Polanski accusing Labour ministers of favouring property companies over ordinary homebuyers. Polanski says the party’s criticism stems from a pattern where new developments prioritise high-end apartments with onerous service charges rather than building long-term social and affordable housing.
He highlighted a recent event hosted by the Housing Secretary that required developers to pay £2,000 per person to attend, arguing that such gatherings demonstrate an unhealthy relationship between ministers and industry lobbyists. Polanski also reiterated the Greens’ call for the abolition of leasehold, describing leasehold as a system that imposes recurring costs on millions of households.
Steve Reed, representing the Labour side, dismissed the accusations and accused the Greens of inconsistency, pointing to council-level opposition by Green councillors that, he claims, has delayed many housing projects. Reed emphasised government investment aimed at increasing social housing, referencing a £39 billion fund intended to expand the stock of social and affordable housing.
At the same time, recent property data shows a slowdown in construction: new home starts in London dropped to an estimated 4,220 in the year to September 2026, down from 6,000 the previous year, and completions fell by 15% from 18,720 to 15,920. These numbers form part of the backdrop to a heated campaign where both parties seek to define responsibility for the housing squeeze.
Green policy platform and local examples
The Greens are pitching a distinctive set of housing measures framed as an alternative to Labour’s approach, including rent controls, the full abolition of leasehold, and stronger commitments to building council homes. In campaign speeches Polanski and local candidates point to the track records of Green-led councils outside London that have delivered new social housing stock, arguing these examples show the party can translate principles into homes. Candidates such as Liam Shrivastava in Lewisham and Zoë Garbett in Hackney are emphasising local priorities — from increasing the percentage of affordable units in mixed developments to enforcing higher standards for existing social housing. The Greens also highlight specific developments where social provision has been limited, arguing that planning decisions have favoured private profit over community need.
Labour rebuttal and contested figures
Labour has pushed back hard, accusing the Greens of blocking vital projects. Reed stated that Green councillors have so far opposed schemes that would have delivered thousands of homes, claiming a figure of 42,000 projects halted across Britain, with around 13,000 of those described as social and affordable housing. Labour also stresses its national investment plans and maintains that planned funding will produce the largest increase in social housing in a generation. The two sides therefore disagree not only on causes but on who is responsible for delays, and those political arguments are central to the campaign narrative as control of boroughs is contested.
Data on starts and completions
Statistical evidence underpins much of the public debate. Industry data shows a notable fall in new activity in the capital, with a reported 30% slump in new home starts year-on-year for the period to September 2026 and a 15% drop in completions over the same span. Campaigners from multiple parties cite these trends to argue their case: Greens warn that market-led development churns out unaffordable units, while Labour insists that supply problems require large-scale investment and planning reform. The figures are being used as proof points by both sides, shaping messages aimed at voters worried about housing affordability and availability.
Political stakes and forecasts
Modelled projections have amplified the sense of urgency. Data firm Bombe produced scenarios suggesting the Greens could capture control of up to nine London councils, naming boroughs such as Hackney, Lambeth, Lewisham, Wandsworth, Hammersmith and Fulham, Greenwich, Brent, Hounslow and Waltham Forest. Labour currently runs 21 of London’s 32 boroughs, but polling and modelling ahead of the local contests, including predictions around the vote on May 7, have suggested the political map could shift dramatically. Polanski points to the party’s 2026 gains — more than 241 new councillors that year — and says the Greens are aiming to surpass that number, even while acknowledging the different electoral landscape this time.
What this contest means for voters
For Londoners worried about housing costs and quality, the campaign frames a clear choice: one side argues that government investment and nationwide programmes will expand social and affordable housing, while the other pushes local, regulatory solutions such as rent controls and the end of leasehold. Both narratives lean on statistics and high-profile events to make their case. As the election approaches, the debate over who is blocking or enabling new homes, and whether market incentives or stronger public controls are the right remedy, will be central to how residents cast their ballots and how future planning and housing policy is shaped.
