Town Hall leader Richard Watts has said the election of Sadiq Khan as London Mayor will make a “massive difference” to Islington’s ability to secure more affordable homes in the borough.

Speaking after the vote which saw Mr Khan elected by a considerable margin, the Labour councillor said City Hall would now back the Town Hall over future developments such as the Holloway Prison site.

“It’s going to make a massive difference in our ability to do some big things,” he said.

“For example, around the Holloway Prison site, having someone in City Hall who will work with us to build affordable homes rather than a Mayor who works against us, backing his mates in the development industry, is going to help a great deal. Housing is the main issue and Sadiq’s manifesto has been clear on that.”

Islington had several high-profile clashes with former Tory Mayor and Angel resident Boris Johnson during his eight-year tenure at City Hall, usually over planning matters.

Cllr Watts said: “It will also be good to have a Mayor we can speak to about policing and transport issues.”

Housing campaigners are marching on Holloway Prison tomorrow (Saturday) to demand social housing be built on the publicly-owned site. They fear the land will be sold to private developers for luxury flats to fund government plans for nine new prisons across the country.

Protesters will gather in front of the university buildings just south of Holloway tube station at 11.30am. The march will set off up Holloway Road at noon.

On Thursday, campaigners are holding a public meeting about the Housing and Planning Bill in Tompion Hall, Percival Street, Finsbury, at 7pm.

• Keywords
  HOUSES, SOCIALISM, LOCAL GOVERNMENT
• Geographical keyword
  ISLINGTON (LONDON BOROUGH)
• Persons keyword
  , Sadiq Khan, Richard Watts