London is a vibrant, competitive and influential city. Whether it is the millions of tourists drawn to a city steeped in history, a premier destination for business, or the access to global opportunities that everyday Londoners are afforded, our capital is one of the most diverse and exciting cities in the world. our housing shortage makes both economic and business sense. Not only will housing investment be a shot in the arm for our domestic economy, but it will also help to address business confidence. Businesses of all sizes and sectors have made it clear that both housing cost and availability is negatively impacting on their ability to recruit and retain staff. This impact is most telling in the recruitment and retention of entry-level staff in London. These workers specifically are the backbone of the capital’s success story, making it vital that we build the homes required to house and retain that talent. Affordable housing has been an essential part of London’s infrastructure since the estates built with the donations of Victorian philanthropists such as George Peabody during the nineteenth century. Providing homes for London’s nurses, teachers, social care workers, cleaners and bus drivers, in places where they can access employment opportunities is fundamental to the running of the city, and to enabling one of the largest economies in the world to continue flourishing. We also need housing that’s affordable for people further up the income scale. Without it, there are serious consequences for attracting the entrepreneurs and young professionals who have traditionally fuelled London’s growth, creativity and innovation.