The shortage of housing is the single biggest issue we face in Harrow and across London. No matter if you own your own home or rent, lived in Harrow for years, or just moved in, everyone is worried about the cost of housing.
Even for those that are able to buy a house, the mortgage is taking up more and more of their salary, and those that rent, they can see almost half their after tax income gone.
Being a second generation immigrant, I’m proud of my Indian traditions and roots. I know for the Asian community in Britain, just as for all communities across Britain, being able to buy a home means more than just a place to live; it represents stability and a sense of belonging. Under my leadership of Harrow Council, we will continue to build affordable homes to allow that dream to stay alive.
I will work with the newly elected Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan to implement, in Harrow, his plans to get more homes built in London that are affordable to people on average incomes. We have seen recently how billionaires from across the world are buying up homes in London and leaving them empty. Not only is this practice disgraceful in a city that has a growing homelessness problem, it is pushing up the price of homes for ordinary people to. That is why I support Sadiq Khan’s plans to make sure that London’s new homes are marketed in London before they are put out for sale abroad. Londoners should be first in line for London’s new homes.
But in Harrow our regeneration programme cannot just be about houses, it must be more than that. It must be about the communities that live, work and play in Harrow too. Not only must there be places to live, but also places to relax. Culture, leisure and places to shop must be part of the plan. The regeneration programme must also include a purpose, a signature message that will define Harrow for years to come.
Listening to Harrow residents will be key to a successful regeneration programme. We’ve set up a resident’s panel to ensure that what we do is rooted in the views of our residents. But we must now go further. We cannot leave behind the people that have lived in Harrow for decades. For them, sometimes the regeneration programme is remote. What can the regeneration of Harrow provide a retired owner occupier, who has lived in Harrow for 30 years? We need to be able to answer that question.
We must also make sure we have the right number of schools, GP practices, roads and parking places to meet the demands that a larger population with bring. The Building a Better Harrow programme will bring not just new homes to the Borough, but will make it a great place for residents and families to live too.
