Lewisham’s Mayor & Cabinet have approved the Lewisham Air Quality Action Plan and a consultation with Lewisham Homes residents on the future of the housing provider, both key pledges from the 2022 Lewisham Labour manifesto.

The Lewisham Air Quality Action Plan will help tackle toxic air by introducing new targets in line with the World Health Organisation’s recommendations, installing additional air pollution monitors to provide a better understanding of Lewisham’s air quality and the effectiveness of pollution reduction measures, and introduce more school streets to improve air quality at school gates across the borough.

Louise Krupski, Labour’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate, said:

“Improving Lewisham’s air quality is a key priority for Lewisham’s Labour council and we recognise the negative impact poor air quality has on people’s lives and health outcomes.

“We have already seen air quality improve by 40% and have taken action against car idling, supported clean bus routes, and invested in making walking and cycling easier across Lewisham.

“Labour’s new Action Plan will continue this work – providing rigorous new targets and a wide range of measures to further improve Lewisham’s air quality, to the benefit of all Lewisham residents.”

The agreement to consult residents on the future of Lewisham homes will give the opportunity to tenants and residents of the housing provider to engage with decisions on the future of the service, including if the service should be brought back in-house. Lewisham Homes currently manages 20,000 homes in the borough on behalf of the Council.

Sophie Davis, Labour’s Cabinet Member for Housing Management and Homelessness, said:

“We believe having a decent, secure, and affordable home is a human right. Unfortunately, the Tory housing crisis means this is not the reality for many Lewisham residents.

“As a Labour Council, we are determined to do everything we can to improve housing conditions in the borough, which is why we are consulting with Lewisham Homes tenants and leaseholders on the future management of the service.

“We want to hear from residents and ensure that those living in Lewisham Homes properties help inform how the service is run in the future, how it could be improved, and the decision on whether it should be brought back in-house.

“This is an important step in further improving housing conditions in the borough, following on from our work to tackle rogue landlords through an additional licensing scheme and crack down on empty homes with council tax premiums.

I am looking forward to hearing the views of Lewisham Homes tenants and leaseholders alike.”