I welcome yesterday’s Spending Review as a major boost for Newham - delivering much-needed investment into the issues that matter most to our residents.
Housing remains one of the most urgent challenges facing our borough. I am, therefore, thrilled to see the Government committing £39 billion over the next decade for social and affordable housing.
Here in Newham, we are already leading the way - we have the fourth highest number of new housing starts in the country, and second highest in London. This new investment will allow us to build on that momentum, delivering more genuinely affordable homes for local families, key workers and those most in need of secure, decent housing. It will also be key to dealing with the temporary accommodation crisis.
Just as important is the investment in our young people. With one of the youngest populations in the country, the commitment to expand apprenticeships and skills training couldn’t come at a more important time for Newham. A £1.2 billion annual investment for training and apprenticeships will massively help our young people to develop skills, secure well-paid work and play a central role in creating opportunity in our borough.
I look forward to working with partners to make sure every penny of this funding is used to improve lives and build a better, fairer future for all our residents.
