The transport body – a major London landowner – has set itself the target of starts on sites by 2020 to deliver 10,000 homes, more than 50 per cent of them affordable. Describing this goal as a “sprint”, the London Assembly’s housing committee has warned that it must take “radical” steps if it wants to succeed.

Among the recommendations made in ‘Homes down the track – how TfL can use its land to build more homes, more quickly’ (pdf) [https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/housing_committee_-_homes_down_the_track_report.pdf] are the quick creation of pilot schemes for small builders and the appointment of a property professional to its board.

The committee’s report also recommends that TfL works more closely with London mayor Sadiq Khan and the 32 London boroughs to streamline procurement of builders and speed up planning permissions. “TfL has set itself the target of starts on sites by 2020 to deliver 10,000 homes,” said the Assemby’s housing committee former chair Andrew Boff. “Our evidence suggests this is something of a sprint, and we don’t think it’s going to make it unless it takes some more radical steps. Either way, we need to be clear about the trade-offs TfL’s making, to be sure its land is delivering the best deal for Londoners.”

Transport for London is one of the capital's biggest landowners, with some 5,700 acres – 1.5 per cent of London’s footprint – in its portfolio. Much of this is in operational use, however, and it is unclear how much is developable. The report asserts that many of the sites, though well located next to transport hubs, are small and difficult to access.

TfL’s own analysis has identified a set of around 100 sites from a shortlist of 400 that have rapid development potential. Collectively, they cover approximately 300 acres. But the committee has expressed concern through the report that the transport body has not been working closely enough with other public bodies and landowners, or with builders.

In particular, the report notes the potential for TfL to support small builders and help many of London’s small building firms step up from the likes of loft conversions to full housebuilding. TfL could also be working with, for example, Network Rail, which owns land next to TfL sites and which has its own property development plan.

The report notes that TfL also has the opportunity to “create public value through visionary schemes which will stand the test of time”. But it must take more steps to bring on board the expertise to develop its available land in line with this goal. “Journeying in that direction takes time and money, and implies organisational change with long-lasting consequences,” the report says. Overall, the report makes eight recommendations to TfL.

In the first instance, the transport body needs the London Land Commission to analyse and classify its land in order to identify suitable sites.

It must then:

work with the Mayor of London and the London to “align development objectives for each site”

build relationships with relevant boroughs, as planning authorities, to accelerate delivery and create certainty

ensure effective joint working between its property development and operational and technical staff

consider whether it needs to add a property professional to its board membership • work with the Mayor to consider a more rapid approach to procurement on a first set of sites

prioritise identifying and analysing smaller sites so that more of them come forward quickly

put together a pilot approach to working with smaller builders by the end of 2017

appoint a small builder champion to its property development team.

Image | Transport for London

Download ‘Homes down the track – how TfL can use its land to build more homes, more quickly' (pdf)