Thomas Bridge 11 June 2015

Demolish council estate high-rise blocks, says housing minister

Housing minister Brandon Lewis has said London’s high-rise flats on estates could be demolished and rebuilt to increase housing supply.

Speaking at the London Real Estate Forum, Lewis said inner city areas were ‘dominated by high-rise concrete blocks from the 1960s and 70s’ yet a number of inner London projects had shown how ‘these concrete blocks can be torn down and replaced with streets’ – the FT reports.

The speech marked Lewis’s first official speech since being reappointed housing minister at the Department for Communities and Local Government.

London boroughs have long been warning ministers of a ‘housing crisis’ amid spiralling demand for expensive land. Westminster City Council yesterday releasing draft plans to unite with other councils and construct homes outside the capital, warning ‘there isn’t enough space’ in its own boundaries.

Lewis said central London boroughs were currently housing fewer people than they were in 1939 because of the low densities of housing estates.

‘Complete rebuilding of these estates will provide more homes and commercial space for the same amount of land,’ Lewis said.

The housing minister has today announced an investment of £252m in the construction of 1,353 homes for private rent in Stratford, west London and Southwark.

The funds mark a further allocation from the Government’s £1bn Build to Rent Fund, which is designed to support development of large scale homes for the private rented sector.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Makaton Tutor - Part Time / Term Time

Essex County Council
£25821.00 - £30377.00 per annum + + Pension
Makaton Tutor - Part Time / Term TimePermanent, Part Time£30,377 per annum, full time equivalent / equal to £15.74 per hour.Location
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Assistant Urban Design Intern

Essex County Council
Up to £25081.00 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension
Assistant Urban Design InternFixed Term, Full Time£25,081 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Wellbeing and Independence Practitioner - Safeguarding Team

Essex County Council
£31931.00 - £36423.00 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension
Wellbeing and Independence Practitioner - ASC Centralised Safeguarding TeamFixed Term, Full Time£31,931 to £36,423 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Financial Strategy Manager (Revenue)

The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
Negotiable
Bring clarity to complex decisions and help shape how we invest in our borough's future.Bring clarity to complex decisions and help shape how we inves England, London
Recuriter: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council

Team Manager - Locality

Wakefield Council
£55,979.00, Grade 13
Wakefield Children’s Services have been rated by Ofsted as GOOD with outstanding leadership. Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council
Linkedin Banner