Morning Briefing: Sadiq Khan’s strategy catches the headlines

In the news

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s draft London Housing Strategy has attracted widespread coverage across the media.

In The Guardian, Barry Mortimer, director of the Federation of Master Builders, says his plans to use more small builders will be “good for London”.

ITV has focused on the mayor’s pitch for more powers, while most outlets focus on his new land-buying powers.

Our latest about those powers, including some sector reaction, is here.

Meanwhile, the Financial Times takes a lengthy look at the state of housing associations in a considered piece about why they have become more commercial in recent years. It features comments from sector stalwarts Brendan Sarsfield, David Orr and Tom Murtha.

Interestingly, Nick Raynsford, former Labour housing minister, predicts at least one association will meet a sticky end due to its commercial exposure.

“Given [associations’] higher risk profile, I think it is now almost inevitable that there will be a failure which is too large to be easily coped with,” he says.

And finally, in Stafford, people are getting a little carried away with their metaphors. The decision to split affordable and market units in a development by Bellway is being compared to apartheid.