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The progression of politics and housebuilding over the last half century
David Hall, associate director at Boyer (part of the Leaders Roman group), explains that a need for adequate housing delivery through collaboration has frequently been recognised but never achieved. Throughout this piece, David analyses where things have gone wrong.
I have worked in planning from 1968. Since then, and indeed as far back as the immediate post war period, housing has been an issue with which various governments have struggled. This article looks at the changes within the planning system, but also the consistencies which have contributed to the problem.
The labour administration of Harold Wilson, in a draft white paper, Housing Programmes 1965-70, announced that ‘the government intends to give greater priority to housing than it had for many years. The rate of building will be pushed up as fast as resources and improving techniques allow. In 1964, 383,000 houses were completed (United Kingdom). The first objective is to reach half a million houses by 1970.’
According to research, the 1964 figure was briefly exceed four years later, at 425,840, but by 1970 it had fallen to 362,220 and from 1971 onwards it has declined fairly steadily; half a million homes per annum has never been achieved.
Planning for housebuilding in the 1980s was set out in three circulars: Circulars 9/80: Land for Private Housebuilding, and Circular 22/80: Development Control Policy and Practice, issued as the first acts of the new Tory administration. These were followed by Circular 15/84 Land for Housing.
The suggestion was that these circulars would ‘free up’ the planning system. The thatcher government sought to relax planning controls and introduce the imperative that there must be a continuous and adequate supply of land to enable housebuilding, suggesting that planning policies should reflect demand from the market. Housebuilding climbed gradually, to a peak in 1988.
The two circulars of 1980 introduced the requirement for a five year land supply and for housing land and availability studies undertaken jointly by local authorities and the housebuilding industry. Circular 22/80 stated that in the absence of a five-year supply, there should be ‘a presumption in favour of granting planning applications for housing, except where there are clear planning objections’.
So the matter of a five year supply and land availability has been a political hot potato since the 1980s. At this point there appears to have been some cooperation between housebuilders and local planning authorities, through Joint Housing Land Availability Studies. However, as time progressed the system lost any credibility as it became one in which decisions were best described as ‘planning by appeal’. Local authorities unable to demonstrate an effective five year land supply found that secretaries of state regularly ruled in favour of appeals brought by housebuilders.
From 1988, housing supply dropped, mainly as local authority housing was reduced substantially, and has remained at a lower level.
By 2001, however, the total number of new dwellings completed in England had fallen to a then record post-war low of 174,100, compared to almost 202,510 in 1990. Developers blamed the planning system for the slow-down.
Planning Policy Statement 3 was introduced to put things right: local authorities were required to identify not merely an immediate supply of deliverable housing sites for the first five years of a local development framework, but a further supply of potential development sites for the next five years, together with more sites or general locations for growth for the following five years.
PPS3 defined deliverable sites as those already available, which offered a suitable development location contributing to the creation of sustainable mixed communities and which had reasonable prospects of development within five years.
In 2007, the government sought to achieve 240,000 new homes per annum in England (following just 208,970 in 2006) But in 2007, new homes across the UK as a whole amounted to just 223,590 and even this figure has not been met in the years following.
From the coalition of 2010-2015 to the conservative government of today which followed it, we have had a relatively non-interventionist approach to planning. This is most recently exemplified in the promotion of greater freedom of permitted development rights. Paradoxically, this has tended to meet with the (traditionally more interventionalist) labour party’s approval.
So, what are the common factors over the last 55 years? The objective of building more homes has not changed, and yet despite the numbers varying across the years, need has prevailed year on year. Another constant, and possibly the reason for unmet need, is that the politics of housebuilding has been consistently negative. As the comparison between the 1970s and 80s shows, deregulation is demonstrably not the answer, and the regional approach has proven the most effective way of delivering the requisite number of homes (the duty to cooperate is no substitute).
Successive governments have tinkered with the problem but have been repeatedly diverted from bold decision-making by political expediency. This has been evident very recently in Michael Gove’s pandering to the government’s backbench NIMBY brigade.
So what is the ongoing problem for housing and planning?It seems to me that there are two fundamental issues. Firstly, location and need for development, and secondly, the administration of the system to enable that need to be delivered.
In the case of the former, location and need are predicated by demand in as much that each area should at least ‘consume its own smoke’. Once need has been established, administrative requirements to deliver housing must be put in place. It is no coincidence that when administration was simpler, delivery was more effective. When I started in planning, the Encyclopaedia of Planning Law and Practice comprised three volumes. It is now running at nine.
The sad reality is that successive governments have been long on rhetoric (as well as administration) and short on action. In the blame game that ensues, the politicians blame the housebuilder, and the housebuilders blame the system administered by the politicians: the proverbial vicious circle.
It is obvious, therefore, that to expedite delivery, the approach must be collaborative, however unpalatable that might be. The draft white paper, Housing Programmes 1965-70, stated: ‘Now for the first time, the government, the building societies and the builders have discussed together and agreed on the need for forward planning of housebuilding, and for continuous collaboration to ensure a steadily rising programme. For the first time the pre-requisites of forward planning, including adequate incentives and flexible controls, are being formulated. It should now be possible, with the new arrangements for regular consultation and review among all the interests concerned, to ensure a steadily rising house-building programme. From this start a comprehensive plan covering all facets of housing policy can be evolved.’
Is this not the approach we should have been following for the last five decades?
Images: Avel Chuklanov and Nick Kane
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Government given the greenlight to brownfield homebuilding
Ministers have announced that every council in England must prioritise brownfield developments and demonstrate more flexibility in applying policies that halt progress.
On Tuesday 13th February, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and housing secretary Michael Gove, announced the beginning of a consultation into a package of measures aimed at making it easier for developers to get permission to build on derelict sites in England’s 20 biggest towns and cities.
In a statement, Rishi Sunak said: ‘We pledged to build the right homes in the right places – protecting our precious countryside and building more in urban areas where demand is highest. [This new package] is us delivering on that.’
Michael Gove added: ‘Our new brownfield presumption will tackle under delivery in our key towns and cities – where new homes are most needed to support jobs and drive growth.’
As part of the new plans, all local authorities across the country will be required to approve new developments on brownfield land – a site which was previously developed but has fallen into disuse – unless they can come up with a good reason why they cannot.
In addition, the new plans include limits being removed on the kinds of former commercial buildings that can be turned into flats, removing restrictions on how big the building can be before a developer has to apply for planning permission.
Previously, planning rules stated that when turning a commercial building into a block of flats, the floor space of the existing building must not exceed 150 sq metres.
Against this backdrop, ministers will also consult on making it easier for homeowners to extend their houses without seeking planning permission – an idea that has been trialled before by former prime minister David Cameron. He attempted to axe red tape for single-storey extensions of up to eight metres long in 2012, however, the idea made a U-turn following severe backlash from his MPs.
Following the announcement, some industry experts have welcomed the news whilst others believe it to be the wrong decision.
Ritchie Clapson, co-founder of propertyCEO, said: ‘[The] announcement underlines the importance of converting unused brownfield sites which could unlock up to 1.2 million new homes right across the country, according to countryside charity CPRE. But simply removing restrictions will do little to solve the housing crisis unless other key issues are addressed.
‘The vast majority of brownfield conversion projects are too small to be attractive to large housebuilders. But they’re perfect for SME builders – a group who previously accounted for over 30% of all development in the UK but who now represent just 12%. The government needs to be doing a lot more to encourage landlords and other solo entrepreneurs to take on these smaller development projects, otherwise they simply won’t happen.’
‘Removing the ‘vacant for 3 months’ requirement means developers can buy with the certainty they can develop, which in turn means they can get funding. Scrapping the 1,500m2 rule should also create opportunities for larger developers. Both are good news – but permitted development rights still require approval from local councils,’ Clapson said. ‘And that’s where there’s a major problem. Local planning authorities are massively under-resourced and regularly view permitted development as an unwelcome affront to their authority. The government needs to invest in these planning teams and get them onside – otherwise these housing projects run a significant risk of being vetoed out of hand.’
The consultation on the new proposed plans is set to run until 26th March 2024.
David Thomas, chief executive of Barratt Developments, said: ‘We welcome any efforts to make it easier to get planning permission, particularly for brownfield regeneration, which is already naturally a more complicated and capital-intensive process.’
Although, Clive Holland, broadcaster on Fix Radio – the only national radio station for builders – echoed similar views to Clapson, as he claimed that other areas of the development industry need to be addressed before new homes can be built. Particularly hiring new staff members.
‘To keep up with current construction demand alone, it is estimated that Britain needs an extra 225,000 tradespeople by 2027. This is before we account for new homebuilding pledges,’ Holland said. On top of this, our industry is losing record numbers of colleagues, with nowhere near enough new recruits entering the trade.’
Holland added: ‘Data from the Department for Education has revealed that the number of completed construction apprenticeships in England fell from 12,420 in 2018 to 7,700 in 2022. Another alarming stat: 17,500 people apply for electrician apprenticeships every year, yet only 2,500 pass their course, while an estimated 8,000 electricians leave the industry each year.’
Images: sol and C Dustin
National Highways has begged road users to stop littering
The RSPCA have received over 10,000 reports of animals being harmed as a result of discarded litter over the last three years – almost 10 per day.
On Monday, 12th February 2023, National Highways, a government-owned organisation that looks after roads, launched their new campaign ‘Lend a paw – bin your litter’ as a result of shocking figures that have been revealed by leading animal charity the RSPCA.
The charity, who have joined forces with National Highways to launch the campaign, has highlighted that within the last three years, they have received over 10,000 reports of animals being found injured, trapped, or dead due to litter.
These shocking findings prompted National Highways to launch a survey in January 2024 which found that almost half of the people involved were unaware that fruit peel and apple cores counted as litter. However, these disregarded leftovers can lead animals into fatal situations.
In addition, almost a third of survey participants – 2,000 people were questioned overall – thought dropping organic waste like apple cores or leftover food on the road was beneficial to wildlife, while around a third weren’t sure or didn’t know.
The survey also outlined that while more than 90% of people said they had never discarded litter onto the roadside, over 60% said they had seen someone else doing it.
As well as launching the campaign, National Highways have also run a trial using AI-enabled cameras in conjunction with a local authority that is carrying out enforcement. This is part of a long-term plan to rid roads and motorway service areas of rubbish.
The government-led organisation have likewise trialled message signs to reduce littering and used geofencing to send texts to motorists entering laybys where littering is an issue to prompt them to take their waste home.
National Highways chief executive Nick Harris said: ‘Littering is a dreadful social problem. It’s not just unsightly, it can have a deadly impact on wildlife, turning verges into lethal roadside restaurants.
‘We’re working hard to tackle it on our roads, with our people litter-picking every day. To keep them safe we have to close motorway lanes, which delays drivers and costs millions of pounds.
‘But if people don’t drop litter in the first place it wouldn’t need to be picked up – so we urge road users to take their litter home.’
National Highways will be taking part in the upcoming Great British Spring Clean for the ninth year running.
‘We welcome National Highways’ campaign to raise awareness about the dangers wildlife faces from litter discarded by the roadside,’ Geoff Edmond, RSPCA lead wildlife officer said. ‘Our rescuers deal with thousands of incidents every year where animals have been impacted by litter. Old drinks cans and bottles, plastic items and even disposable vapes are just some of the items that pose a danger to our wildlife including hedgehogs, squirrels, deer, and foxes.’
Edmond added: ‘Animals can ingest the litter, become trapped in it, or be attracted to old food on the roadside which puts them in danger of moving vehicles.
‘Sadly, for every animal we’re able to help there are probably many others that go unseen, unreported and may even lose their lives.’
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Building Better is looking for traditional contractors to join £800m framework
The National Housing Federation-backed alliance of housing associations and councils has mapped out plans to increase the use of modern methods of construction (MMC) in social housing.
At the beginning of this week, Procurement for Housing, a service provider dedicated to the social housing sector based in Scotland, teamed up with Building Better, an alliance of housing associations and councils, to develop a £800m framework that will help bolster the use of modern construction in social housing.
In order to work the framework, which is set to run for four years, is looking to appoint traditional contractors that are based in 10 different regions in England and Wales, who will ultimately lead on the project.
Known as the ‘Integrated Traditional Build & MMC Framework’, the project has been created in response to calls from social housing providers for a compliant way of involving trusted, local construction firms on MMC projects, where elements of traditional construction are still required.
News of this new framework has come amidst government debates on whether Awaab’s Law should be extended to the private housing sector as the quality of homes in the UK has declined. According to a report that was released in 2023, one in six young adults in the UK are forced to live in poor-quality housing.
Whilst building on their new scheme, Procurement for Housing and Building Better have spoken to SME building firms across England, gathering feedback on how an agreement could work to the best of its ability. Both organisations are looking for ways to make the procurement process more straightforward and to develop the most effective contracting environment.
Tony Woods, technical manager for construction & sustainability at Procurement for Housing said: ‘We’ve been talking to traditional contractors to find out how they’d want to work on MMC schemes and, interestingly, many of their requests are the same as those from offsite manufacturers.
‘Both want to be engaged early in the process, before set designs are in place. Both want a more transparent way of working with wider use of ‘pain and gain’ agreements and a simpler, more collaborative contracting environment. This feedback is now being used to design our integrated framework.’
The framework will cover the construction of housing, apartments, and extra care homes and there will be a regional lot structure. A contract notice will be issued in March 2024, with successful bidders appointed in the summer.
‘Increasingly, our members want a blend of different construction methods on their MMC projects,’ Trina Chakravarti, director of Building Better said. ‘Traditional SME construction firms have a huge amount of expertise, and we’re keen to harness this through the framework.’
Chakravarti added: ‘Using a collaborative approach means that manufacturers can concentrate on delivering their product, traditional firms can take control of the building process and we can offer housing associations and councils a wide range of construction solutions.’
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London council pursues registered provider status to help tackle homelessness crisis
Richmond Council has been granted approval to apply to become a registered provider of social housing, enabling it to access additional funding to deliver temporary accommodation and address homelessness.
The decision comes in the wake of the council’s recent appeal to the government to end the freeze on the housing benefit subsidy cap, which has remained stagnant since 2011.
Jim Millard, deputy leader of Richmond Council, said: ‘Our dedicated officers are doing incredible work supporting residents presenting as homeless in the borough, but the pool of appropriate properties available within the private rented sector has evaporated.
‘As a result, too often Richmond families faced with homelessness are having to be placed in temporary accommodation outside the borough, far from support networks and often with journeys of over ten miles to school every day. In the face of a temporary accommodation crisis which has been exacerbated by the soaring cost of living, we need to take swift action to alleviate the impact on Richmond residents in need.
‘With over 500 families currently in temporary accommodation, becoming a registered provider enables us to directly deliver accommodation within the borough for those in need and this decision not only streamlines the process but shows how we are innovating to tackle this challenge at a local level.’
Seeking registered provider status gives Richmond, as a non-stock holding authority, the opportunity to bid for funding from the Greater London Authority to allow it to pursue other approaches to increasing the stock of temporary accommodation within the borough, including expanding the council’s programme to acquire properties on the open market and address the immediate need for temporary accommodation.
At the end of June 2023, Richmond had 521 households in temporary accommodation, 273 of which included children. Of the 521 households, only 18 were accommodated in social housing, and 399 were housed outside the borough.
The figures marked a 53% rise in the space of a year – at the end of June 2022, Richmond had 340 households in temporary accommodation, 173 of which included children, and 220 of which were housed outside the borough.
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Eviction rates surge as government reforms stall again
The number of private rented households repossessed by bailiffs in England following section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions reached 2,671 in the last quarter – a rise of 39% in a year and the highest quarterly figure since 2018.
Meanwhile the Renters (Reform) Bill, which will eventually outlaw no-fault evictions, continues to be delayed with serious concerns it won’t become law before the general election. The Bill was introduced in May last year and is currently awaiting the report stage in the House of Commons.
Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt announced last week that the government is prioritising the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill, which has now overtaken the Renters (Reform) Bill despite only being introduced on 27th November.
Shadow Commons Leader Lucy Powell commented in response that the Renters (Reform) Bill was ‘missing’ and ‘Report Stage was promised by early February but is nowhere to be seen’.
The number of section 21 claims taken to court by landlords reached 7,527 last quarter, a 23% rise year-on-year, according to data published by the Ministry of Justice.
The total number of section 21 claims taken to court since 2019 – when the government first promised to deliver a ‘better deal for renters’ and ban the practice – now stands at 88,965.
As the majority of section 21 evictions are not contested and therefore do not end up in court, the real number of no-fault evictions issued to tenants will have been many times higher. Polling by Shelter estimates that 172 families a day are served a Section 21.
Tom Darling, campaign manager of the Renters’ Reform Coalition, said: ‘It’s barely believable that against an escalating evictions and homelessness crisis we have a government slow-walking one of the only policy levers they say will address the issue – not to mention that they first promised to abolish no-fault evictions five years ago. We are now very concerned this vital legislation won’t get passed before the election – if it doesn’t, it would be an outrageous betrayal of England’s 11 million private renters.’
Ben Twomey, chief executive of campaign group Generation Rent, said: ‘Today sees the continuation of an awful trend that has been blighting the lives of renters across our country. As long as landlords can evict tenants through no fault of their own with just two months’ notice, homelessness in England will continue to soar.
‘Renters have been waiting five years since the government promised to end these evictions, and yet today we find out the government is delaying their plans again. Since that promise, almost 90,000 households have been forced out because of no-fault evictions – and this number is rising every day. In fact, since the law to change this was last debated in parliament, we estimate that 5,891 more households have faced Section 21 eviction in the courts.
‘How can the government stand by while thousands of us are turfed from our homes? The Renters (Reform) Bill must be brought back to the Commons as soon as possible to end these appalling evictions. England’s 12 million private renters cannot be made to wait any longer.’
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Rwanda bill axes vital human rights obligations, report warns
An incriminating new report highlights that the policy not only leaves refugees without a safe place to live but warns it could ruin the UK’s reputation.
This morning, a new report from MPs was published which details the detrimental effects the Rwanda bill could have should it be passed. The aim of the bill, which is progressing quickly through the houses of parliament, is to counter the judgement of the Supreme Court which found that Rwanda is not a safe place for UK asylum seekers to be removed to last November.
The bill, which was introduced as part of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s plans to ‘stop the boats’, claims that Rwanda is a safe country and that anyone who is sent there by the government will not be forcibly removed to an unsafe country.
Against this backdrop, the report finds it is unclear whether this can be guaranteed in practice.
In November 2023 two out of three judges from the Supreme Court cited five reasons as to why the bill is unlawful. These include:
- Asylum interviews are conducted in a brief and perfunctory manner, which could prevent a person from being able to fully explain their circumstance
- Rwanda’s committee to determine refugee status does not allow lawyers to make arguments on behalf of a person, to help explain why they should be granted asylum
- Local non-governmental organisations do not have the capacity to provide asylum seekers with legal assistance throughout the process
- Rwandan officials deciding applications do not have sufficient skills and experiences to make reliable decisions, partly due to a lack of training
- Judges in Rwanda may be susceptible to political influence and reluctant to overturn decisions not to grant asylum
To conduct the report, a committee of MPs gathered evidence from legal experts, academics, and non-governmental organisations (NGO). They discovered that the bill is incompatible with the UK’s human rights obligations, erodes the protections laid out in the Human Rights Act, contravenes part of the European convention on human rights and falls short of the UK’s commitment to comply with international treaties.
The report said: ‘The bill’s near total exclusion of judicial scrutiny seeks to undermine the constitutional role of the domestic courts in holding the executive to account.’
In addition, the committee’s chair, Joanna Cherry MP, has stated that the bill creates ‘hostility’ to human rights and that no number of improvements would be able to save it.
‘This bill is designed to remove vital safeguards against persecution and human rights abuses, including the fundamental right to access a court. Hostility to human rights is at its heart and no amendments can salvage it,’ Joanna said. ‘This isn’t just about the rights and wrongs of the Rwanda policy itself. By taking this approach, the bill risks untold damage to the UK’s reputation as a proponent of human rights internationally.’
In response to the report, a home office spokesperson said: ‘We are committed to tackling this major global challenge with bold and innovative solutions, and the Rwanda scheme is doing just that. The bill we have introduced, and the treaty alongside it, are the best way of getting flights off to Rwanda as soon as possible.
‘Rwanda is clearly a safe country that cares deeply about supporting refugees. It hosts more than 135,000 asylum seekers and stands ready to relocate people and help them rebuild their lives.’
The Rwanda bill is set to reach its committee stage in the House of Lords this afternoon where it is thought it will be heavily scrutinised.
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Biodiversity net gain rules have come into force in England
Hailed as one of the world’s most ‘ambitious’ decisions to support the environment, new developments in England must now consider natural habitats.
Today, a new law has been implemented in England which will ensure that all new housing and road projects benefit nature rather than destroy it. Under the new law, which has become a requirement under the Town and Country Planning Act, all new road and housing developments must achieve a 10% net gain in biodiversity or habitat.
This means that if a new development has plans to damage a particular green space, another needs to be recreated either on site or elsewhere.
The government have set a target to build 300,000 new homes a year by the mid 2020s which, will not only inevitably contribute to carbon emissions, but also result in thousands of acres of land being torn up. At least with the new rules coming into play, net zero goals won’t be so obstructed.
Commenting on the news, Natalie Duffus, a biology and geographer researcher from the University of Oxford, said: ‘It’s one of the most ambitious schemes we’ve seen. Other places are watching us and seeing how it unfolds. If done well, I think it could inspire a lot of other markets to develop in different countries.’
Experts in Sweden, Singapore, Wales, and Scotland have already expressed an interest in copying the idea. This news makes a change in how the UK are often viewed in response to their climate goals, as in summer 2023 government advisors revealed the UK was missing climate targets on almost every front.
A report from the Climate Change Committee, which was published last year, revealed that various built environment targets had been missed such as the number of homes receiving energy efficiency improvements under the government’s Energy Company Obligation scheme more than halved, from 383,700 in 2021 to 159,600 in 2022.
However, industry experts have claimed that the new law, which came into force today for larger sites and will be implemented on 2nd April for smaller schemes, is a start in the right direction to ensuring England provides much needed housing but not at the cost of green space.
‘The biodiversity net gain requirements coming into force from today will establish the UK as a world leader on natural capital regulation,’ Peter Bachmann, managing director of sustainable infrastructure at Gresham House, said. ‘The legislation, designed to protect and enhance nature, will not only lead to positive outcomes for our natural world but will also create protected environments for local communities and more consistent and transparent requirements for developers.’
Bachmann added: ‘Through formally recognising the value of nature, the government is playing a key role in establishing a novel market worth hundreds of millions annually and giving investors the confidence needed to fund the realisation of its potential. This is truly a game changer and represents a policy shift that serves people and the planet – supporting development to solve the UK’s housing crisis while also driving positive environmental impact.
‘We must support and scale the companies that offer fully funded solutions, providing long-term legal and financial certainty essential to properly avoid biodiversity loss while also offering a robust product for developers to manage this new planning requirement. For investors, this new market for companies delivering biodiversity net gain units now represents a unique opportunity to drive strong financial returns through positive impact.’
Image: Sophie N
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Children’s playground massacre: Parks in London to be replaced by social homes
Southwalk council have began ripping out communal spaces and playgrounds to make room for new homes, however the spots have been left boarded up due to insignificant funds.
Last August the local authority began digging up parts of Bells Gardens and Lindley estates ready to build new homes in January, although all that remains of the spaces is a small pitch surrounded by hoardings.
Experts have warned that the boarded-up area, which locals have described to The Guardian as an ‘abomination’, mirrors the dire state of social housing across the entire capital city and that better laws need to be in place to protect children’s play areas.
Because the majority of playparks have been dug up in this specific area, families in South London have claimed that their young ones have stopped playing outside on weekends and once they have finished school.
Commenting on the news, Helen Dennis, a cabinet member and councillor for new homes and development, said that the local authority had been hit by mounting costs and was ‘extremely disappointed’ when they had to stop the works to build more social homes.
Cllr Dennis said: ‘Increased inflation, significantly higher building costs and interest rates following the government’s mini-budget a year ago have meant that councils across the country have had to change plans.
‘The residents of Bells Gardens worked so passionately with us to plan what was to happen on the estate. It’s incredibly disappointing. We will provide a playground and we are working as quickly as possible to get things moving again.’
When the plans to construct 600 new homes were submitted, various locals protested against them. In London, the mayor has said that there should be around 10 sq metres per child but pressure for denser builds means developers do not always stick to this standard.
Currently the problem of protecting children’s play areas is at the forefront of an inquiry by the committee that scrutinises the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and is gathering evidence from play experts, planners, and psychologists.
The new properties were set to be built as part of a process known as ‘infill building’ – the insertion of additional housing units into an already-approved subdivision or neighbourhood.
Recent statistics have shown that in London one in 23 children are homeless and Southwalk alone has 15,000 people on its housing waiting list. Some people who are currently waiting for an affordable home are stuck in bed and breakfasts’.
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