London: a Global City
Future Problems and Challenges: Housing

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

London: a Global City
Future Problems and Challenges: Transport

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