Around half of London’s boroughs are failing to hit housebuilding targets.

A report from planning consultancy Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners and business group London First shows only 18 out of 33 London boroughs met or exceeded their annual housebuilding targets between 2010 and 2013.

Coming in as the seventh worst across the capital, Barnet only built 3,405 homes - 50.3 per cent of its target of 6,765.

Meanwhile Enfield also fell short with only 1,474 homes, 87.7 per cent of its 1,680 target.

However both Haringey and Harrow exceeded their goals, achieving 123.8 per cent and 139.5 per cent respectively.

Housebuilders in Haringey erected 3,045 new homes, more than its target of 2,460, while in Harrow a total of 1,465 houses were built, passing its target of 1,050.

Enfield Independent:

The figures include both private housing developments and social housing in each borough.

The consultancy's report, Carrots and Sticks, states that the Mayor of London should be given new powers to strip councils of planning decision-making where they fail to hit housing targets.

It also sets out rewards that could be handed out if boroughs’ targets are reached or exceeded.

Baroness Jo Valentine, chief executive of London First, said: “Politicians make grand gestures about boosting the supply of housing but most lack the responsibility and accountability for making this happen.

“An important step to deal with the housing crisis in London is to use a carrot and stick approach with boroughs.

“This will help close the yawning gap between political rhetoric about getting homes built and the reality of how many are actually completed.”