In February, the G15 – which represents London’s 11 largest housing associations which are traditionally the biggest builders of affordable housing in the capital – warned Michael Gove, the Housing Secretary, said that housebuilding in London was grinding to a halt.
The G15 members are on track to start building just 1,769 homes in London this year, a fall of 76pc compared with the 7,363 started in 2022-23.
A Labour spokesman said: “Britain’s housing crisis is a direct result of the Government crashing the economy and failing to get Britain building.
“Labour mayors like Andy Burnham are leading the way in driving change to deliver the homes Britain needs.
“Only Labour will deliver the biggest boost to affordable, social and council housing for a generation, getting new homes built, brick by brick.”
Responding to Mr Burnham’s comments, Robert Colvile, director of the Centre for Policy Studies think tank co-founded by Thatcher, said: “Right to Buy was, by any measure, phenomenally successful.
“The policy put home ownership within reach of millions who previously thought it impossible and, contrary to what some people may like to imply, waiting lists for social housing fell during Right to Buy’s heyday.
“What we have is a crisis in house building and in planning – not just with social housing but in all tenures and all types of home. If Andy Burnham wants to alleviate the housing crisis in Greater Manchester, he needs to support building more homes – not suspending Right to Buy.”
The Government was approached for comment.