As Islington residents suffer in overcrowded houses, the construction of new homes in the borough almost halved this year.
Only 310 houses were completed by August 2014 as compared to 590 a year before, the newly published government figures revealed. The construction of 170 homes has been started by mid-2014, which is almost half as many as the previous year.
James Murray, Islington’s executive for housing and development, said the council seized every opportunity to expand the housing stock in terms of the land it owns, building permissions it gives and projects it runs.
“The construction is project-based; some years are more productive, while other have fewer projects. But we meet the projections in a long-term perspective,” he explained.
Lack of affordable housing in Islington
Islington is the most densely populated borough in London, with 145 people per hectare. It is also one of the most expensive places to live. An average price to buy a house in the borough is at least 11 times higher than a median resident’s salary would allow.
Islington’s housing strategy for 2014-2019 states one of the council’s top priorities is “to fight for everyone in Islington to have a home that is decent, affordable, and secure”.
At least 2,000 new “affordable” homes were projected to be delivered between 2010 and 2015, including council estates. By the autumn 2014, about 1,700 houses have been added to stock.
At least 42 per cent of homes in the borough were categorised as “affordable” in 2013. These included 26,000 tenanted properties owned by the council and 15,000 homes provided by more than 40 housing associations.
Every extra house is important
Councillor Dave Poyser who is in charge of Hillrise ward in North Islington had been standing for building at least 40 affordable houses at the abandoned Ashmount site for two years until the terms for project implementation, impeded by a conflict of interests between residents, local and central authorities, were finally set in late November.
Mr Poyser said: “Most people who live in the borough are either rich or poor, with fewer people in between the two extremes. Middle-class people such as primary school teachers or public administrators struggle to find accommodation. Every new house we build is a victory.”
