London Labour Housing Group Conference and Annual General Meeting
Saturday 29th November
Venue: Crowndale Centre, 218 Eversholt Road, London, NW1 1BD.
On Saturday 29 November, London Labour Housing Group held its 2025 Conference and Annual General Meeting. The event was chaired by Sem Moema MP (Vice-Chair, LHG; Chair, LLHG).
Session 1: Margaret Mullane MP
The first session was led by Margaret Mullane MP (Dagenham and Rainham). Margaret began by setting out the dysfunctional legacy of the last Conservative government, which left over 300,000 people – including 170,000 children – in temporary accommodation. She pointed out that there was now a 60-year waiting list for three-bedroom properties in her constituency.
Setting out her vision of a progressive housing policy, Margaret stressed the importance of infrastructure in creating communities where people wanted to live, work and retire. She said that infrastructure such as GP surgeries and school places must support new housing developments, and referenced historical examples of successful community development such as the Becontree Housing Estate in Dagenham. She also discussed the challenges of delivering larger family homes and the need for more grants to support these properties.
Session 2: Matthew Pennycook MP
The second session was led by Matthew Pennycook MP (Minister of State for Housing and Planning). He began by providing an overview of the Government’s housing policies, arguing that it had achieved more in its first 18 months than many achieve in an entire parliament. This included key achievements like the Renters’ Rights Act and the Leasehold Reform Act. He also emphasised the need for a diverse supply of housing, including community-led housing and SME-involvement, to address the housing crises.
In the Q&A section, concerns were raised about developers’ lack of engagement with communities and the need for genuine consultation. Matthew agreed that smart developers should engage with communities to gain consent for their projects.
In response to a question about the Government’s support for SMEs in the housing sector, Matthew outlined various initiatives such as consultations on medium-sized site thresholds and new definitions for affordable housing.
There was also discussion of the unique challenges of the London housing market, including high build material costs, planning capacity issues, and the impact of the building safety regulator. Matthew emphasised the need for a specific approach to London’s housing market given its unique dynamics.
Session 3: Councillor Adam Hug
The third presentation, featuring Councillor Adam Hug (Leader, Westminster Council) focused on the challenges and strategies for social housing in Westminster.
Adam began by outlining the current housing problems in his borough, highlighting issues such as high private rents, long waiting lists, and underinvestment in council stock. He set out the measures that Westminster council had put in place to address these challenges, including:
- Comprehensive stock condition surveys
- Regular maintenance
- 10-year contracts with contractors
- Involving residents in decision-making through estate offices and overhauled tenant voice processes
Adam also discussed the wider problem of skilled workforce shortages in the housing sector, such as in the case of electricians and plumbers. He said that the council was working on a long-term workforce strategy to attract people into these trades and housing services.
In the Q&A, there was discussion about the need for a focused political message to communicate to voters in 2026; the effects of displacement from boroughs; and the council’s approach to regeneration and estate engagement. Concerns were raised about the difficulty maintaining historic communities in central London in the context of high private rents. Adam emphasised the importance of creating opportunities for families to stay in Westminster, and the need to balance regeneration with infill and opportunistic sites.