Making Social Rent Homes viable
A paper setting out a framework for delivering affordable housing, with a specific focus on the Social Rent has been published by Homes for People We Need, an informal collective of organisations, experts and practitioners in the housing sector.
It aligns with broader discussions advocating for increased housing development across all tenures, recognising the urgency of addressing the housing crisis through structured, large-scale investment.
Low rental income makes substantial public subsidy unavoidable. Current spending on temporary accommodation of over £2.8 billion annually could be redirected into structured funding models, [more…]
![Garden Court [ Photo: Kew Society ]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Garden-Court-Kew.jpg?resize=344%2C258&ssl=1)
Tenants facing eviction in LB Richmond
Residents of a block of flats in Kew, many of whom are elderly or vulnerable, are facing eviction after the owner sold the block to Westminster council which has said it needs the building to be empty in order to house the growing number of homeless people in its borough.
Richmond Leader Gareth Roberts wrote to Westminster council, accusing them of showing “disturbing disregard for residents’ well-being” and having responsibility for the “displacement of an entire community”.
The sources of this story are TheLondoner and member Kew Society
Cost-of-living crisis
In an article on the NLA website, Will Temple, Senior Associate Director at PRD, examines why economic growth alone will not resolve London’s cost-of-living crisis. Drawing on new analysis, he highlights the need to align housing and economic policy to improve living standards across the capital.
He gives many links in the article to other news and statistics to support his views.
Chief Planning Officer’s newsletter
A long newsletter by Chief Planner of MHCLG, Joanna Averley, was published to local authorities’ planning officers on 27th March 2026, covering:-
- Decision delegation,
- Emergency measures to support London housebuilding,
- Refundable deposit scheme for certain single-use drink containers,
- LPAs to set their own planning application fees,
- Government intervention if a LPA intends to refuse planning permission for a housing scheme of 150 dwellings or more,
- Regulations for new Local Plans to be submitted by 31 December 2026,
- The expedited appeals process,
- A Land Use Framework, and
- The Future Homes and Buildings Standards.
Peckham Vision message about National Housing Demonstration
On 16th March, London Forum issued an update about an 18th April National Housing Demonstration about the crisis of lack of social housing and secure affordable private rented accommodation, making it almost impossible for most people in London to get a decent home.
We have been asked by one of our members, Peckham Vision, to send London Forum members a plea for people to sign up to attend the event and receive notification of where it will be held.
The letter from Eileen Conn is here.
![Housing in London 2025 report - affordable housing starts [GLA]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Housing-in-London-2025-report-002-22_1.png?resize=1280%2C909&ssl=1)
Housing in London 2025
The most recent Housing in London report includes five thematic chapters:
- Demographic, economic and housing context
- Housing stock and supply
- Housing costs and affordability
- Housing needs, including homelessness and overcrowding
- Mobility and decent homes
A PDF version is available here, while the data for this and previous reports can be found on the London Datastore here.
Housing in London is the evidence base for developing the Mayor’s Housing Strategy and for London Plan housing policies.
It has graphs (1.2 and 1.3) of London’s population trend from 1801 to 2024.
Demo on affordable housing crisis
![Brent CLT Social housing [ image Bell Phillips Architects ]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bell-Phillips-Brent-CLT.jpg?resize=1100%2C1100&ssl=1)
Community housing in Brent 100% affordable
The Architects’ Journal published a report on a block of 19 social rent homes proposed by the non-profit, volunteer-run Brent Community Land Trust (CLT) for a site in Brentfield Road, Stonebridge, Brent. The 19-home scheme aims to give local people the “opportunity to remain in the neighbourhood”.
The plot for the scheme was identified in collaboration with Brent Council for the CLT’s Art Deco-inspired modernist housing block designed by Bell Phillips Architects, replacing a derelict site of garages. The application is to be determined in the spring
Grants for social housing
MHCLG has announced new funding and financial flexibilities for Councils, housing associations, and other providers to accelerate social and affordable housebuilding. It comes ahead of a £39 billion bidding window for local authorities opening in March.
Landlords will also have to meet robust standards to provide homes that are free of disrepair and damp, warm and energy efficient through a new Decent Homes Standard (DHS). There will be new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards that could save social tenants hundreds of pounds every year on their energy bills.
Measures to improve delivery of affordable housing in London
London Forum has responded to two consultations to boost house building, as follows.
A Government consultation on Emergency Measures for a temporary relief from the CIL and changes to Mayoral planning powers.
A GLA draft London Plan Guidance proposing time-limited changes to cycle parking, changes to housing design guidance and a time-limited planning route for the delivery of affordable housing.
London Forum believes neither [more…]
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Making Social Rent Homes viable
Noise Action Week 11th to 15th May 2026
Additional rules for Neighbourhood Forums
Densifying the Suburbs – A presenter’s Insight
Our President, Ben Derbyshire, provides his Insights into our recent Densifying the Suburbs event.
I welcomed the invitation to speak at an [more…]
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