London faces significant housing challenges including a growing population that increases housing demand by 35,000 households per year. By 2021, London will need roughly 800,000 new homes to meet this demand. However, house prices in London are 50% higher than the rest of the UK, home ownership is less than 50%, and there is a lack of affordable housing options as social housing only represents 24% of dwellings and over 80,000 homes are empty. As a result, over 400,000 Londoners are on housing waiting lists or receive housing benefits.
2. What is London's housing crisis ?
● London's population is increasing by around 35 000 households (foyers) per year
● London will need roughly 800 000 new homes by 2021
● House prices are 50% higher in London and home ownership is less than 50% (UK
average 72%)
● Social rented accommodation represents only 24%
● Private rented accommodation represents >25%
● The poor population is being rehoused in Outer London (social cleansing)
● There are 4000 homeless in London
● Over-crowding is widespread – 11,6% of dwellings in London, 25,4% in Newham
● London is surounded by a greenbelt where there is no planning permission
● There are over 80 000 empty homes in London
● There are 362 000 people on housing waiting lists
● 820 000 Londoners claim housing benefit due to high prices
4. What transport problems does
London face ?
● With over 90 million passangers each year London Heathrow is the busiest airport in Europe but
needs to be extended but no solution has yet been found
● Eurostar and Eurotunnel are Britrain's lifeline to Europe. Paris is 2h15mns away and Brussels
only 2h00. The British government plans to sell its 40% share in the company.
● The London Underground (The Tube) is the oldest in the world and is in bad need of renovation.
● To combat road congestion the GLA introduced Congestion Tax in 2003 – there has been a
decrease in car traffic over the last ten years
● However, car journeys still outnumber all other of means of transport
● Congestion Tax has been increased from £8 to £10 then £11,50 per day
● The new Mayor of London Boris Johnson (Conservative) decided to stop Congestion Tax in the
western, richer boroughs (where his voters live)
● The M25 Orbital motorway around London has proved to be too small and is known for its traffic
jams
