Can London S ill Accommoda e he Nex
Gene a ion o Young G adua es?
Candida e Numbe : 2425SUN14
Depa men o A chi ec u e
Uni e si y o Camb idge
Wo d Coun (excluding cap ions & bibliog aphy): 8,752 wo ds
This disse a ion is submi ed o
Pa II Disse a ion
Ap il 2025
Acknowledgemen s
Comple ing his disse a ion has made me ealize how o una e I ha e been o ecei e in alu-
able suppo om Camb idge. I would like o exp ess my since e g a i ude o my supe iso ,
P o esso Ying Jin, o his insigh ul guidance and p omp esponses h oughou my esea ch.
I am deeply hank ul o P o esso Nicholas Bullock o his in ellec ual gene osi y and all he
inspi ing discussions. My app ecia ion also goes o D . Felipe He nández o his consis en
encou agemen and unde s anding. Finally, I wish o ex end my app ecia ion o D . Jinze
Sha, who uly excelled in guiding me o excel in Excel.
Abs ac
Young g adua es - hose who come om uni e si ies, colleges and o he u he educa ion
and a e adi ionally inspi ed by London jobs – a e inding he ci y’s accommoda ion well
beyond each. This disse a ion in es iga es how London has been changing in he ecen
decade. My esea ch i s e iews he p edicamen o he young g adua es; nex , Census
2011 and 2021 da a a e analysed o ack shi s in young adul popula ions; his is hen
compa ed agains housing s ock changes by uni size and loca ion, wi h case s udies o wha
is happening on he g ound. The indings e eal a clea s uc u al challenge ha has escaped
mos esea che s in he ield: London’s young adul popula ion g oup aged 25-34, o which
he young g adua es belong, is ac ually declining in mos a eas, while housing cons uc ion
is now skewed owa ds la ge o high-end uni s o olde , weal hie amilies. This means
London appea s o be p icing ou i s nex gene a ion o young g adua es and his ca as ophic
end demands s ong policy in e en ion and inno a i e design solu ions.
Table o con en s
Lis o igu es ix
1 Housing p edicamen s o he new gene a ion 3
1.1 Banko MumandDad ............................ 4
1.2 Uni e si ies, Wo kplaces and Cha i ies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.3 Go e nmen In e en ions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.4 Lack o unde s anding o he cu en si ua ion in London . . . . . . . . . . 9
2 The Impac o Co id-19 and Shi ing Demog aphics 11
2.1 E alua ing he Reliabili y o Census unde COVID-19 . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2.2 S uc u al Shi , No a Pandemic Gli ch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3 Spa ial Dis ibu ion o Young Adul s s. Housing S ock (2011-2021) 15
3.1 AgeG oup20-24 ............................... 16
3.1.1 O e iew............................... 16
3.1.2 2011Dis ibu ion........................... 17
3.1.3 Pa e ns and Changes in 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3.2 AgeG oup25-34 ............................... 20
3.2.1 O e iew............................... 20
3.2.2 2011Dis ibu ion........................... 20
3.2.3 Pa e ns and Changes in 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
3.3 AgeG oup35-44 ............................... 23
3.3.1 O e iew............................... 23
3.3.2 2011Dis ibu ion........................... 23
3.3.3 Pa e ns and Changes in 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
3.4 Age G oup 45-54 and 55-64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
iii Table o con en s
3.4.1 O e iew............................... 26
3.4.2 2011Dis ibu ion........................... 26
3.4.3 Pa e ns and Changes in 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
3.5 Age65andAbo e .............................. 30
3.5.1 O e iew............................... 30
3.5.2 2011Dis ibu ion........................... 31
3.5.3 Pa e ns and Changes in 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
4 Can London s ill accommoda e young people wi h sui able housing? 35
4.1 One-Bed oom Uni s 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
4.2 Spa ial Misalignmen o 1-bed oom Uni s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
4.3 Two-Bed oom Uni s in 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
4.4 Limi ed Alignmen wi h 25-34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
4.5 Th ee-Bed oom Uni s in 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
4.6 Fou and mo e Bed oom Uni s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
4.7 Good News? Lo s o 4-beds a e buil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
5 S uc u al Failu es in London’s Housing Ma ke o he New Gene a ion 47
5.1 Sel -Regula ed Ma ke .s. Social Needs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
5.2 Policy and Planning Sho comings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
5.3 Bo lenecks in he planning p ocess . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
5.4 Consequences: Young Londone s’ Coping S a egies . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
6 Conclusions 57
6.1 Po en ial in e en ions o a mo e esponsi e housing sys em . . . . . . . . 57
6.2 Summa y and u u e wo k . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Re e ences 61
Lis o igu es
1.1 To al Numbe o Dwellings in London by Pe iod o Cons uc ion(1900-2024) 9
1.2
Dwelling Comple ions in London by Tenu e Type and Time Pe iod (1990-2024)
10
2.1
Compa ison o 2021 Census and Mid-Yea Es ima es (2021-2023) by Bo oughs
12
2.2
Change o Popula ion by Age Band in London, Mid-Yea Es ima es(2001-2023)
13
2.3
Change in Popula ion Sha e by Age Band in London, Mid-Yea Es ima es
(2001-2023).................................. 13
3.1 London Tube Fa e Zone T anspo o London (2025) . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3.2 Sha e o age 20-24 in Residen Popula ion (a) 2011, (b) 2021. . . . . . . . 17
3.3 Sha e o 20-24 in Residen Popula ion by Bo oughs - 2011 and 2021 . . . . 18
3.4 Sha e o 20-24 in Residen Popula ion - Di e ence 2011-2021 . . . . . . . 19
3.5 Sha e o age 25-34 in Residen Popula ion (a) 2011, (b) 2021. . . . . . . . 20
3.6 Sha e o 25-34 in Residen Popula ion by Bo oughs - 2011 and 2021 . . . . 21
3.7 Sha e o 25-34 in Residen Popula ion - Di e ence 2011-2021 . . . . . . . 22
3.8 Sha e o age 35-44 in Residen Popula ion (a) 2011, (b) 2021. . . . . . . . 23
3.9 Sha e o 35-44 in Residen Popula ion by Bo oughs - 2011 and 2021 . . . . 24
3.10 Sha e o 35-44 in Residen Popula ion - Di e ence 2011-2021 . . . . . . . 25
3.11 ........................................ 26
3.12 Sha e o 45-54 in Residen Popula ion by Bo oughs - 2011 and 2021 . . . . 27
3.13 Sha e o 55-64 in Residen Popula ion by Bo oughs - 2011 and 2021 . . . . 28
3.14 Sha e o 45-54 in Residen Popula ion - Di e ence 2011-2021 . . . . . . . 29
3.15 Sha e o 55-64 in Residen Popula ion - Di e ence 2011-2021 . . . . . . . 30
3.16 Sha e o 65+ in Residen Popula ion (a) 2011 (b) 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . 31
3.17 Sha e o 65+ in Residen Popula ion by Bo oughs - 2011 and 2021 . . . . . 32
3.18 Sha e o 65+ in Residen Popula ion - Di e ence 2011-2021 . . . . . . . . 33
3.19 Compa ison on Sha e o Di e en Age G oups - Di e ence 2011-2021 . . . 34
6Housing p edicamen s o he new gene a ion
•
Many pa en s in hei 40s now did no expe ience he same inancial ad an ages as
hose in hei 50s and 60s, many o hem migh s ill be epaying hea y loans when he
younge Gen Z coho need such help.
•
As li e expec ancy is ex ending, he olde gene a ions a e inc easingly awa e o he
need o secu e hei inancial abili y o la e -li e ca e, gi en he con ex o wo ld-wide
ageing p oblem and he ising cos s o elde ly ca e.
The e o e, while inancial ans e s om pa en s will emain an impo an sou ce o inancial
suppo o young adul s, hey a e becoming inc easingly unsus ainable due o ising inancial
p essu es o e ime.
1.2 Uni e si ies, Wo kplaces and Cha i ies
Aside om pa en al help, i would be easonable o conside possible assis ance om
ins i u ions-such as uni e si ies/colleges, wo kplaces, and cha i ies- o p o ide housing sup-
po . Howe e , hese ins i u ions can only o e limi ed assis ance.
Fo example, he la ges uni e si y in London in e ms o s uden s’ size - Uni e si y College
London (UCL) s a es ha i s yea unde g adua es a e p io i ised o a place o uni e si y
accommoda ion, while he es may s ill apply and s and a chance o ge ing uni e si y
accommoda ion (UCL, 2024). A cu en inal-yea UCL unde g adua e con i med ha , in
p ac ice, i is ex emely di icul o second- and hi d-yea s uden s o ob ain uni e si y
accommoda ion, despi e being eligible o apply. He also men ioned ha i s -yea uni e si y-
managed housing in London can cos as li le as £245 pe week, including u ili ies and meals,
an op ion almos impossible o ind in he p i a e housing ma ke .
Simila ly, only i s -yea unde g adua es a Impe ial College London (IC) a e gua an eed
college accommoda ion. (Impe ial College, 2025). One IC s uden desc ibed how, du ing his
i s yea , he li ed in uni e si y-p o ided ensui e accommoda ion in No h Ac on o jus £170
a week. Howe e , once s uden s mo e beyond hei i s yea , hey mus na iga e he p i a e
en al sec o because o he sho age in school accommoda ion. The same IC s uden , now a
hi d-yea in e n a As aZeneca in Camb idge, ecei es only £300 weekly as sala y om
he company and s uggles wi h li ing cos s: du ing he week, he s ays a T a elodge nea
Camb idge S a ion, and on weekends he commu es back o London, sha ing a £400-pe -week
apa men in Kensing on. The wo cases e eal ha bo h uni e si ies and wo kplaces a ely
p o ide subs an ial housing assis ance. While i is unde s andable ha i s -yea s uden s
1.3 Go e nmen In e en ions 7
equi e g ea e housing secu i y, his policy lea es soon- o-g adua e s uden s and ea ly-ca ee
p o essionals in a p eca ious posi ion.
Recognising hese housing challenges, UCL also e e ences cha i ies as po en ial sou ce o
housing suppo . Howe e , by examining he majo cha i ies lis ed (S uden s’ Union UCL,
2024), i is ob ious ha hey a e p ima ily ocused on p e en ing homelessness and p o iding
empo a y shel e o indi idual cases, a he han add essing he b oade issue o housing
o young en e s.
1.3 Go e nmen In e en ions
Gi en ha uni e si ies and cha i ies may only p o ide assis ance in limi ed cases, he
esponsibili y o ensu ing housing condi ions has now and his o ically allen on council
in e en ion. When he e a e housing di icul ies, go e nmen usually has wo solu ions:
mass p oduc ion o social housing and he in oduc ion o minimum housing s anda ds. As
Pala e (2020) no ed, ‘along wi h he widesp ead campaign o Homes i o He oes, housing
would no be esol ed solely as a quan i a i e issue, bu also, and mos impo an ly, as a
quali a i e conce n by he s a e.’ These wo app oaches we e ini ially aimed a educing pos -
wa housing sho ages, and hey success ully ensu ed basic li ing condi ions. Howe e , as
socie al and economic condi ions e ol ed, bo h s a egies ha e become inc easingly di icul
o implemen e ec i ely.
The idea o Mass-p oduced houses is o p o ide he disad an aged people wi h inc easing
housing supply. Howe e , i is o en miscons ued as a di ec solu ion o a o dabili y. The
Help o Buy Policies aimed o p o ide UK’s i s - ime buye s wi h inancial assis ance,
howe e se ed as bigge ailu e buy ecei ing na ional-wide c i icism. Wol (2013) s ongly
opposed he scheme, a guing ha his would ins ead keep housing cos ly. He w o e:
‘a policy o inc easing demand is absu d. I may inc ease supply a li le, bu only by aising
p ices s ill highe han hey would o he wise be. I one wan ed o inc ease supply, he
solu ion is e iden , bu poli ically un hinkable: make a la ge quan i y o land a ailable o
de elopmen and impose a swingeing si e alue ax, o compel building’. Wol (2013)
The e was also he Righ o Buy policy (1980) which led o he sale o housands o council-
owned homes a a cu p ice, ye wi h e y ew new eplacemen s buil by local au ho i ies.
(Malpass, 2005). Na ionally, he sha e o households en ing o m councils hal ed om 31%
in 1980 o jus 16% in 2022/23 (New Economics Founda ion, 2024). This seemingly o e ed
8Housing p edicamen s o he new gene a ion
an oppo uni y o social housing enan s o become homeowne s. Howe e , he long- e m
e ec , as Malpass (2005) poin ed ou :
“On he one hand, he impo ance a ached o he sale o council houses, a policy o changing
he owne ship o exis ing dwellings, adding no hing a all o he o al s ock. And on he
o he hand, a om p omising he elec o a e so many hund ed housand dwellings each
yea , Michael Hesel ine s ead as ly e used o p edic how many dwellings would be buil .
By he ea ly 1980s ou pu a ge s had ceased o be a measu e o minis e ial i ili y and had
disappea ed om he poli ical agenda. The Go e nmen has, howe e , con inued o p omo e
he expansion o home owne ship as he cu e-all o housing p oblems”. Malpass (2005)
In he UK, an es ima ed 41% o homes sold unde Righ o Buy a e now being en ed ou by
p i a e landlo ds (New Economics Founda ion, 2024) - an e ec i e ans e o public asse s
in o he p i a e en al sec o . Fo young Londone s oday, his means a ewe inexpensi e
social homes a e a ailable han o p e ious gene a ions, o cing many in o he cos lie
p i a e en al ma ke o long wai s o council housing.
The e o on se ing housing s anda ds has also encoun e ed di icul ies. I he Tudo Wal e s
Repo (1918) and he Dudley Repo (1944) ep esen ed he go e nmen ’s ea ly e o s o
ackle he p oblem o pos -wa housing c isis, he Pa ke Mo is Repo (1961) hen s ands ou
o be he i s o espond o social changes. While he ea lie epo s se explici equi emen s
o he mass-p oduced council houses, he PM epo is mo e complex as i a ge ed housing
ype and s a egies. Fi s , he PM epo was published in he backd op o apid social
changes, including g ea e emale pa icipa ion in he wo k o ce, he ise o ele ision and
p i a e ca s eshaping daily li e, highe educa ion le els leading o mo e people ge ing
uni e si y deg ees, and he economic p ospe i y o he 1960s. These social changes ende ed
p e ious housing s anda ds ou da ed Pala e (2020). Second, he PM Repo egula ed p i a e
en e p ises houses, as i o esaw he u u e ise o he p i a e en sec o . One las signi ican
p og ess is he app oach o o e all ecommenda ions. Ins ead o se ing exac minimum
equi emen s on he a ea o he oom, he PM epo p o ided an o e all ecommenda ion,
allowing o ce ain lexibili y in p ac ice Pala e (2020). The lesson lea ned om se ing such
equi emen s is a o wa d- hinking mindse , emphasising ha housing policies, like u ban
planning, mus an icipa e u u e needs. Howe e , despi e i s p og essi e ision, he Pa ke
Mo is S anda ds we e e en ually abolished, pa ly due o o e ly op imis ic es ima ions o
housing supply Pala e (2020).
1.4 Lack o unde s anding o he cu en si ua ion in London 9
Since he aboli ion o he PM s anda ds, mos subsequen housing s anda ds ha e emained
in a g ey zone. The Na ionally Desc ibed Space S anda ds (G ea e London Au ho i y, 2014),
he London Housing Design Guide (Mayo o London, 2010), and he London Plan Guidance
(Mayo o London, 2023) all ha e se simila egula ions on minimum housing s anda ds, ye
hey emained la gely ad iso y. The main con lic lies be ween en o cing minimum s anda ds
and main aining housing supply. In a ma ke al eady s uggling wi h slow housing deli e y
and unde supply, imposing manda o y s anda ds will educe supply e en u he , he eby
exace ba ing he si ua ion. The Mayo ’s London Plan se s a a ge o 52,000 new homes pe
yea , ye only 35,000 we e deli e ed las yea (Ba be , 2024). Ac oss he ci y, an a e age
o 37,768 new homes we e added annually be ween 2020/21 and 2022/23, bu he majo i y
(69%) we e o he p i a e ma ke , wi h jus 1,148 comple ions pe yea alloca ed o social
en ed housing (Ba be , 2024). The ailu e o he plan can be explained by a quo e om
Alain Be aud: ‘ ying o use minimum housing s anda ds o add ess a housing sho age is
like ying o “sol e a amine” by passing a law ha e e yone mus ea 2,000 calo ies a day,
ins ead o simply p oducing mo e ood.’
1.4
Lack o unde s anding o he cu en si ua ion in Lon-
don
While he e is a clea sense o a na ional housing c isis, e.g. in he e ised Na ional Planning
Policy F amewo k (Minis y o Housing, Communi ies and Local Go e nmen , 2024) which
he cu en go e nmen inhe i s om he p e ious one, he speci ic London si ua ion is a
less well ecognized. In gene al e ms, a ecen Compe i ion and Ma ke s Au ho i y s udy
concludes ha he house-building sec o “is no deli e ing he numbe o homes. . . needed”
(Compe i ion and Ma ke s Au ho i y, 2024). The o icial documen s also ecognizes he
“social objec i e” o ensu ing a su icien numbe and ange o homes o p esen and u u e
gene a ions. Howe e , despi e his ex ensi e a en ion and policy ocus, he ac ual housing
supply in London con inues o all sho .
Figu e 1.1 To al Numbe o Dwellings in London by Pe iod o Cons uc ion(1900-2024)
10 Housing p edicamen s o he new gene a ion
Figu e 1.2 Dwelling Comple ions in London by Tenu e Type and Time Pe iod (1990-2024)
The ac ual housing deli e y da a (Figu e 1.1) sugges s a pe sis en misma ch be ween s a ed
ambi ions and buil ou comes. The ollowing analysis is based on housing cons uc ion
da a compiled by he au ho using o icial s a is ics om he Depa men o Le elling Up,
Housing and Communi ies (Depa men o Le elling Up, Housing and Communi ies, 2024).
As shown in housing s ock da a by pe iod o cons uc ion, only a ound 257,870 dwellings
we e added be ween 2009 and 2024—jus o e hal he olume buil in he 1983-2009
pe iod (495,850), and less han a qua e o he p e-WWII (1900-1939) o al (1,040,470).
Meanwhile, disagg ega ed dwelling comple ion igu es e eal a s a k dispa i y in who builds:
local au ho i ies deli e ed ewe han 4,000 homes in o al be ween 2020 and 2024, compa ed
o o e 59,000 by p i a e de elope s in he same pe iod (Figu e 1.2).
While much has been w i en abou London’s housing c isis, ew s udies ha e sys ema ically
examined how he p edicamen has e ol ed o e he pas decade, e en less ega ding young
g adua es. The 2011 and 2021 Census is a clea sou ce o e ing a unique oppo uni y o
in es iga e whe he young g adua es a e s ill mo ing o London(Census on age g oups) and
whe he he housing deli e ed ma ches hei needs(Census on housing ype). The ollowing
s udies add esses his knowledge gap h ough a no el s udy ha has no ye been done in he
ield.
Chap e 2
The Impac o Co id-19 and Shi ing
Demog aphics
An analysis o he decade 2011-2021 using Census da a does gi e us a ull pic u e o how
he esiden popula ion e ol ed, in ol ing all age coho s, a e y de ailed le el o geog aphy
o London neighbou hoods. Howe e , we no e ha he yea 2021 was a special yea in many
espec s. The decennial Census da a was ca ied amids he COVID-19 pandemic. Wi h
he widesp ead lockdowns, emo e wo king, and uni e si ies’ shi o online lea ning, i is
easonable o expec ha a conside able numbe o uni e si y s uden and ecen g adua es
may ha e le London and e u n o hei amily homes. This aised conce ns abou whe he
he 2021 Census migh ha e unde coun ed he ue numbe o young people esiding in
London.
To assess his ex en , i is use ul o compa e he Census igu e wi h he Mid-Yea Es ima es
(MYEs). The Census da a is based on an ac ual coun on people and hei households on
Census Day, 21 Ma ch 2021 (O ice o Na ional S a is ics, 2023). In con as , MYEs a e
p oduced annually using de ailed demog aphic models ha accoun o bi hs, dea hs, and
mig a ion, o e ing a mo e ealis ic es ima ion o he en i e esiden popula ion a he mid-
poin o each yea . This MYE is pa icula ly use ul o e i y he popula ion ac oss all yea s
(i.e. including bu no es ic ed o he Census yea s). Ne e heless, he MYE is a ailable
only a a highe le el o geog aphy o bo oughs.
In his con ex , he compa ison be ween 2021 Census and 2021 MYEs has wo speci ic
pu poses:
12 The Impac o Co id-19 and Shi ing Demog aphics
• To e alua e he eliabili y o he Census conduc ed unde COVID-19.
• To see i he e is a signi ican demog aphic shi o e he yea s.
2.1 E alua ing he Reliabili y o Census unde COVID-19
Figu e 2.1 Compa ison o 2021 Census and Mid-Yea Es ima es (2021-2023) by Bo oughs
Figu e 2.1 compa es he 2021 Census wi h MYEs om 2021, 2022, and 2023 ac oss London’s
33 bo oughs. The compa ison con i ms ha he 2021 Census igu es by bo ough we e close
o he 2021 MYE, wi h a small unde coun as expec ed (since we expec a small numbe o
households did no e u n hei Census o ms). The e is no subs an ial de ia ion ha would
sugges a e y signi ican unde coun o majo dis o ion due o he pandemic, hence he
2021 Census emains a eliable sou ce o ou analysis below.
A compa ison wi h he popula ion es ima es in 2022 and 2023 show subsequen inc ease in
esiden ial popula ion in all bo oughs.
2.2 S uc u al Shi , No a Pandemic Gli ch 13
2.2 S uc u al Shi , No a Pandemic Gli ch
Figu e 2.2 Change o Popula ion by Age Band in London, Mid-Yea Es ima es(2001-2023)
Figu e 2.3 Change in Popula ion Sha e by Age Band in London, Mid-Yea Es ima es (2001-
2023)
Figu e 2.2 and Figu e 2.3 p esen age-speci ic ends om 2001 o 2023, in bo h absolu e
numbe s and popula ion sha es. While he 25-34 age g oup saw a sligh dip in 2021, possibly
due o sho - e m mig a ion o lockdown impac s, he subsequen eco e y by 2023 indica es
a e u n o p e-pandemic pa e ns. Howe e , he long- e m end implies he sha e o young
adul s (20-34) has s agna ed om 2001 o 2011, and hen u ned o decline. On he o he
hand, he 55+ age g oup ha e s eadily inc eased in bo h absolu e and p opo ional e ms.
14 The Impac o Co id-19 and Shi ing Demog aphics
This sugges s a s uc u al ageing o London’s popula ion— u he ein o cing conce ns ha
he ci y is becoming less accessible o younge gene a ions.
Chap e 3
Spa ial Dis ibu ion o Young Adul s s.
Housing S ock (2011-2021)
Building on he b oad demog aphic ends iden i ied in Chap e 2, his chap e examines he
de ailed spa ial pa e ns o London’s young adul popula ion and he housing s ock. While he
Census da a is compa ed o all age g oups, he analysis is ocused on he dis ibu ion o he
popula ion g oup aged 20-34 ac oss London in 2011 e sus 2021, and in so doing, in es iga es
whe he changes in housing supply o e ha decade did aligned wi h he housing needs
o his demog aphic. The analysis has wo pa s: i s , how he geog aphic concen a ion
o young adul s has e ol ed, and second, how he supply o di e en ypes o housing (by
numbe o bed ooms) has changed, and inally how hose changes co espond o whe e young
people li e. This will highligh whe he he e is any misma ch be ween whe e housing is
being added and whe e young adul s aspi e o li e.
The maps a e c ea ed a he Lowe Laye Supe Ou pu A ea (LSOA) le el, a geog aphic uni
used in UK census da a ha ypically con ains a ound 1,500 esiden s. The LSOA de ini ion
changed o [numbe ] o a eas be ween 2011 and 2021, and my own wo k ollowing he
guidance o ONS ( e e ence) has p oduced a modi ied de ini ion ha can be used o compa e
ac oss he yea s o all a eas in London. The ba cha s a e p esen ed below a he bo ough
le el wi h he bo oughs lined up om Wes London o Eas London o easy comp ehension
o he pa e ns.
22 Spa ial Dis ibu ion o Young Adul s s. Housing S ock (2011-2021)
3.2.3 Pa e ns and Changes in 2021
Figu e 3.7 Sha e o 25-34 in Residen Popula ion - Di e ence 2011-2021
By 2021, he sha e o 25-34-yea -olds-now alling wi hin Gen Z’s ca ego y-had declined
in he as majo i y o bo oughs (Figu e 3.7). 29 ou o 33 bo oughs expe ienced a d op
om -0.2% o -4.5% (Figu e 3.6). Unlike he 20-24 coho , some la ge decline a e also
ound in he cen e bo oughs his o ically a ou ed by his g oup, such as Camden(-2.6%),
Wes mins e (-3.1%) and Kensing on & Chelsea(-4.5%).
Ne e heless, a ew excep ions like he Ci y o London and Ha e ing saw an inc ease. Signi i-
can ly, he No h G eenwich peninsula s ands ou wi h excep ional la ge gains, wi h inc eases
eaching up o 60 pe cen age poin s. This can be a ibu ed o he G eenwich peninsula
de elopmen p ojec in 2018 by Allies and Mo ison A chi ec s, ans o ming a pos indus ial
si e in o a 35,000 people communi y wi h 17,500 new homes (Allies and Mo ison, 2021).
This includes key de elopmen s such as he Uppe Ri e side neighbou hood, comple ed in
2020 by he in e na ionally enowned i m SOM (G eenwich Peninsula, 2025).
3.3 Age G oup 35-44 23
3.3 Age G oup 35-44
3.3.1 O e iew
Compa ed o younge age g oups, he 35-44 yea band ypically consis s o indi iduals who
a e mo e es ablished in hei ca ee s, many o hem will ha e a amily and may o en be
homeowne s. As such, hei esiden ial pa e ns a e less sensi i e o sho - e m dis up ion
and e lec s ei he a ansi ional, o long- e m se lemen s a egies.
3.3.2 2011 Dis ibu ion
(a) (b)
Figu e 3.8 Sha e o age 35-44 in Residen Popula ion (a) 2011, (b) 2021.
24 Spa ial Dis ibu ion o Young Adul s s. Housing S ock (2011-2021)
Figu e 3.9 Sha e o 35-44 in Residen Popula ion by Bo oughs - 2011 and 2021
The dis ibu ion o 35-44 age g oup shows ha mos a e dis ibu ed e enly ac oss Lon-
don(c e ig:SD3a). Mos bo oughs main ain a simila popula ion sha e anging be ween
13.4% and 17.9%, wi h Richmond upon Thames and Ha e ing showing he highes and
lowes sha es espec i ely (Figu e 3.9). This ou wa d shi indica es a wide choice o housing
s a egies including de ached and semi-de ached homes. As p io i ies shi owa d space and
child en’s educa ion, longe commu ing dis ances become mo e accep able.
3.3 Age G oup 35-44 25
3.3.3 Pa e ns and Changes in 2021
Figu e 3.10 Sha e o 35-44 in Residen Popula ion - Di e ence 2011-2021
Be ween 2011 and 2021, The 35-44 age g oup exhibi s a mo e balanced a ia ion (Fig-
u e 3.10). Sligh dec eases a e ound in inne bo oughs like Camden and Wes mins e , while
some a eas in ou e London, o ins ance, Redb idge and Newham, show mino g ow h.
These changes sugges ha his coho is inc easingly a ou ing ou e London loca ions.
Mo eo e , compa ed o he younge coho s, he 35-44 age g oup appea s less ulne able o
housing shocks and mo e esilien o a o dabili y p essu es.
Howe e , his na a i e becomes mo e complex when examining pa e ns in Wes Cen al
London-an a ea ypically associa ed wi h a luence and high-s a us esiden ial li ing. Despi e
high-p o ile esiden ial de elopmen s in ecen yea s-such as One Hyde Pa k by Richa d
Roge s and Ba e sea Powe S a ion by F ank Geh y, he e has been no isible g ow h in
he 35-44 popula ion in hese a eas-some LSOAs e en expe ienced a 3% o 10% dec ease.
This could sugges his age g oup is also being displaced by apidly ising housing cos , in a
ma ke whe e one-bed oom uni could sell o nea ly 7 million (Zoopla Limi ed, 2025a).
26 Spa ial Dis ibu ion o Young Adul s s. Housing S ock (2011-2021)
3.4 Age G oup 45-54 and 55-64
3.4.1 O e iew
The 46-54, and 55-64 age g oup ypically comp ises he olde , o en weal hie class o
indi iduals app oaching e i emen . This demog aphic p ima ily p io i ise s abili y and
la ge li ing spaces, making hem mo e inclined o se le in ou e ings whe e de ached and
semi-de ached houses a e mo e abundan .
(a) Sha e o 45-54 in Residen Popula ion - 2011 (b) Sha e o 45-54 in Residen Popula ion - 2021
(c) Sha e o 55-64 in Residen Popula ion - 2011 (d) Sha e o 55-64 in Residen Popula ion - 2021
Figu e 3.11
3.4.2 2011 Dis ibu ion
The dis ibu ion o middle-aged g oups (45-54) ollows an ou wa d end, ye emains qui e
e enly dis ibu ed owa ds ou e edges o London. The p opo ion in mos a eas alls wi hin
he ange o 10-20%, wi h some concen a ions s a o eme ge in B omley, C oydon, and
Ba ne . The 55-64 coho con inues his ou wa d mig a ion pa e n bu wi h signi ican ly
3.4 Age G oup 45-54 and 55-64 27
lowe ep esen a ion in inne bo oughs anging 5% o 10%. The g adual ou wa d mo emen
om 45-64 highligh s hei p e e ence o esiding in he ou e bo oughs.
Figu e 3.12 Sha e o 45-54 in Residen Popula ion by Bo oughs - 2011 and 2021
28 Spa ial Dis ibu ion o Young Adul s s. Housing S ock (2011-2021)
Figu e 3.13 Sha e o 55-64 in Residen Popula ion by Bo oughs - 2011 and 2021
3.4 Age G oup 45-54 and 55-64 29
3.4.3 Pa e ns and Changes in 2021
Figu e 3.14 Sha e o 45-54 in Residen Popula ion - Di e ence 2011-2021
30 Spa ial Dis ibu ion o Young Adul s s. Housing S ock (2011-2021)
Figu e 3.15 Sha e o 55-64 in Residen Popula ion - Di e ence 2011-2021
Con a y o he ypical assump ion o ou wa d mig a ion, he 2021 Census e eals ha bo h
age b acke s expe ienced modes ye widely dis ibu ed inc ease ac oss London, no ably, he
Sha e o 54-65 inc ease among 32 ou o 33 bo oughs in London (Figu e 3.13). Howe e , as
shown in Figu e 3.14 and Figu e 3.15, i is also wo h men ioning ha mos o he changes
o bo h coho s lies wi hin ±10%, indica ing a g adual and s eady ageing o he popula ion
ac oss London.
3.5 Age 65 and Abo e
3.5.1 O e iew
As his g oup o people p ima ily consis o he e i ees wi h mo e es ablished li ing a ange-
men s, hey exhibi lowe mobili y and a e mo e likely o emain in pe manen homes. Thei
dis ibu ion pa e ns a e o en shaped by heal h se ice accessibili y, p oximi y o amily, and
3.5 Age 65 and Abo e 31
o e all quali y o he li ing en i onmen , gi en ha his ends o be he weal hies g oup
o e all.
(a) (b)
Figu e 3.16 Sha e o 65+ in Residen Popula ion (a) 2011 (b) 2021
3.5.2 2011 Dis ibu ion
The dis ibu ion o he 65+ age g oup in e s om o he young gene a ions (20-34): he e
is i ually a oid in he ci y cen e and hey concen a e hea ily in ou e London. In inne
bo oughs, mos a eas ha e p opo ions below 8%. Howe e , he highes ga he ings, wi h
some LSOAs exceeding 25%, a e ound in Ha e ing, B omley and Ha ow (Figu e 3.16a).
This pa e n is likely o be shaped by long- e m home owne ship, quie e en i onmen s, and
be e access o subu ban heal hca e and communi y se ices.
38 Can London s ill accommoda e young people wi h sui able housing?
4.3 Two-Bed oom Uni s in 2011
(a) (b)
Figu e 4.4 Sha e o 2-Bed oom in All Households (a) 2011, (b) 2021.
Two-Bed oom emains a good choice o young couples o small amilies, o hose seeking
la -sha ing a angemen s wi hin his 25-34 Age G oup. The p ope ies a e mo e e enly
dis ibu ed ac oss bo h inne and ou e bo oughs, making hem he mos e enly dis ibu ed
housing ype in London. (Figu e 4.4a). Thei p opo ion anges om 24% in Ha ow o
42% in Towe Hamle s, indica ing hei widesp ead a ailabili y. The balanced dis ibu ion
sugges s wo-bed oom uni s could se e as a ansi ional s age ha accommoda es no only
young p o essionals bu also small amilies.
4.4 Limi ed Alignmen wi h 25-34 39
4.4 Limi ed Alignmen wi h 25-34
Figu e 4.5 Sha e o 2-Bed oom Dwellings in All Households by Bo oughs - 2011 and 2021
(a) Sha e o 25-34 in Residen Popula ion - Di e -
ence 2011-2021
(b) Sha e o 2-Bed oom in All Households - Di -
e ence 2011-2021
Figu e 4.6
40 Can London s ill accommoda e young people wi h sui able housing?
Two-bed oom p ope ies expe ienced a mix u e o inc eases and dec eases ac oss cen al
London a he LSOA le el, which, when agg ega ed, esul ed in minimal change a he
bo ough le el (Figu e 4.5). The la ges change was a modes -1.7% in Richmond upon
Thames. In Ou e London, howe e , mos LSOAs eco ded a gene al decline. Figu e 4.6b
u he illus a es ha he ew no able inc eases in wo-bed oom uni s end o be sca e ed and
isola ed, showing li le alignmen wi h he spa ial pa e ns o he 25-34 age g oup’s mig a ion.
(Figu e 4.6a)
4.5 Th ee-Bed oom Uni s in 2011
(a) (b)
Figu e 4.7 Sha e o 3-Bed oom in All Households (a) 2011, (b) 2021.
4.5 Th ee-Bed oom Uni s in 2011 41
Figu e 4.8 Sha e o 3-Bed oom Dwellings in All Households by Bo oughs - 2011 and 2021
42 Can London s ill accommoda e young people wi h sui able housing?
Figu e 4.9 Sha e o 3-Bed oom in All Households- Di e ence 2011-2021
Th ee-bed oom homes ha e adi ionally se ed la ge amilies and a e p edominan ly loca ed
in ou e London bo oughs. This ype o p ope y domina es he ou e ing o London,
and Figu e 4.8 indica es ha he highes p opo ions o h ee-bed oom homes a e ound in
bo oughs such as Ha e ing(49.6%), Bexley(45.7%). The p e alence o hese la ge p ope ies
in ou e ings aligns wi h he olde age g oups’ decen alisa ion, who a e mo e likely o seek
pe manen housing solu ions.
4.6 Fou and mo e Bed oom Uni s 43
4.6 Fou and mo e Bed oom Uni s
(a) (b)
Figu e 4.10 Sha e o 4 and Mo e Bed ooms in All Households (a) 2011, (b) 2021.
Figu e 4.11 Sha e o 4 and Mo e Bed ooms Dwellings in All Households by Bo oughs -
2011 and 2021
44 Can London s ill accommoda e young people wi h sui able housing?
Mul i-bed oom uni s- ypically ou bed ooms o mo e-a e mos sui able o la ge amilies,
in e gene a ional households, o elde ly esiden s who ha e aged in place. In 2011, hese
p ope ies we e o e whelmingly loca ed in he ou e bo oughs, o ming clea clus e s ac oss
No h and Sou h London, pa icula ly in Ba ne , B omley, and C oydon (Figu e 4.10a).
Thei p esence was minimal in cen al bo oughs, whe e high-densi y, smalle uni s domina e.
In e es ingly, he spa ial pa e n o hese homes mi o s he dis ibu ion o he 65+ age g oup,
sugges ing hese uni s se e long- e m esiden s mo e han incoming young adul s.
4.7 Good News? Lo s o 4-beds a e buil
(a) Sha e o 25-34 in Residen Popula ion - Di e -
ence 2011-2021
(b) Sha e o 4 and Mo e Bed ooms in All House-
holds - Di e ence 2011-2021
Figu e 4.12
By 2021, e e y bo ough saw a no iceable inc ease in he p opo ion o hese la ge homes
(Figu e 4.11), making hem he only housing ca ego y wi h ac oss- he-boa d g ow h. We
could see majo inc ease in ou e - ing London. These addi ions appea mo e ailo ed o
he olde popula ion g oups han he in lux o younge esiden s. The loca ions o hese
ou -bed oom inc eases align poo ly wi h 25-34 age band eme ging geog aphies, o e ing
li le suppo o he kinds o housing young adul s migh ac ually need.(Figu e 4.12b). The e
is 3.6% inc ease in Ha e ing-a place whe e 25-34 yea s old ha e shown an inc ease-and
none o he o he house- ypes can add ess he p oblem. So, he good news o Gen Z is ha
hey can now possibly sha e in a 4-bed oom houses in Zone 6 (Figu e 3.1).
4.7 Good News? Lo s o 4-beds a e buil 45
(a) (b)
(c) (d)
Figu e 4.13 Compa ison on Sha e o Di e en Households - Di e ence 2011-2021
Ac oss London bo oughs, he supply o smalle homes declined o s agna ed, while la ge ,
amily-sized p ope ies-i onically less ele an o Gen Z-saw inc eases.
Chap e 5
S uc u al Failu es in London’s Housing
Ma ke o he New Gene a ion
The e idence o he p e ious chap e s e eals a oubling inding ha London’s housing
supply appea s o be ollowing he money (o he weal hie , olde amilies) a he han he
aspi a ions o young g adua es (who a e a guably he e y u u e o he ci y). On he one
hand, he e is he geo-demog aphic shi s (a declining o you h sha e in he mos a luen
pa s o London, whe e he young g adua es a e likely o ind he bes jobs), and on he o he
hand, he e is a housing supply misma ch ( ew a o dable small homes, plen y o la ge ones,
especially in he mos a ac i e pa s o he ci y o he young g adua es). These wo ying
ends appea o be symp oms o deepe , s uc u al and sys emic issues. This chap e dissec s
hese ailu es and explo es wha hey mean om he pe spec i e o u u e young a chi ec s.
The chap e will also in es iga e how young g adua es a e coping oday in London h ough
case s udies on he g ound.
5.1 Sel -Regula ed Ma ke .s. Social Needs
One undamen al issue is he o e eliance on ma ke -d i en housing deli e y, assuming ha
i he demand o housing is high, de elope s will build enough houses o mee ha demand.
Howe e , he de elope s o en choose o build luxu y o upscale housing o maximize e u ns,
a he han he ypes o housing ha a e mos needed. Fo example, Bishops A enue in No h
London - also known as “Billionai es Row” - d ama ically illus a es he ma ke ’s skewed
p io i ies. The s ee was e ealed o ha e £350m wo h o luxu y p ope ies le acan
54 S uc u al Failu es in London’s Housing Ma ke o he New Gene a ion
Case S udies: Wo ld’s End Es a e Wo ld’s End Es a e (Figu e 5.3) was a mass social
housing p ojec in Chelsea by a chi ec E ic Lyons and Jim Cadbu y-B own (A chi ec u e
Re iew, 1977) I was bo n ou o slum clea ance o Vic o ian e aced houses in 1970s:
830 houses has been pulled down and 744 new homes - accommoda ing 500 people - we e
p oposed (A chi ec s’ Jou nal, 1977). Al hough he p ojec was p oclaimed as “ illage s yle
li ing in he hea o London”, Lyon’s plan o 250 people pe ac e was once ejec ed by
London Coun y Council o being a abo e i s limi o 136 people pe ac e (Municipal
D eams, 2024). This was ough back by Chelsea council, a guing only such a angemen
would ehouse all he displaced people om he slum clea ance. (Municipal D eams, 2024)
Lyon’s plan was la e app o ed, ea u ing se en high- ise owe blocks (18-21 s o eys)
in e connec ed by lowe - ise blocks and walkways. Inside he es a e, he dwelling con ains a
mix o uni ypes, anging om s udios and 1-bed oom la s o la ge 4-bed oom maisone es
o accommoda e a ious sizes o households (Municipal D eams, 2024). In his sense, he
social objec i e (housing e e yone) was p io i ized o e s ic adhe ence o densi y no ms.
Compa ison on Space S anda ds - Because Wo ld’s End p eda es he 2010/2015 space
s anda ds, many o i s la s would no mee oday’s minimum sizes o layou s as dic a ed by
London Housing Design Guide. Howe e , i is wo h conside ing he ade-o s in he design
because:
•
The poin o he s udies is only o p o ide an example o council housing ha does no
comple ely comply wi h he cu en egula ion ye has p o ed o be success ul.
•
The 2010 London Housing Design Guide clea ly enume a es equi emen s o di e en
ypes o spaces.
•
The c i e ia o minimum space s anda ds ha e ei he s ayed he same o become less
demanding o e ime, so wha con o med o he 1970 s anda ds should s ill comply
wi h he cu en s anda ds.
5.4 Consequences: Young Londone s’ Coping S a egies 55
Figu e 5.5 Compa ison on di e en house ypes in Wo ld’s End Es a e and London Housing
Guide (Mayo o London, 2010). (Uni s no mee ing mode n s anda ds a e ma ked in ed.
Da a based on eal-es a e lis ings.)
This sugges s ha , while mos o he c i e ia all abo e he London Housing Guide, some
la ge apa men s ea u e smalle hallways, limi ed li ing space and cons ained bed oom
a eas. Fo ins ance, al hough London Housing Guide equi es ha a minimum li ing space
o 6 people should be 31 m², he ac ual numbe o he 3-bed ooms s ays a 28.2 m² - e en
lowe han ha o 2-bed oom la (London De elopmen Agency, 2010).
Ea ly e iews o he es a e we e ha sh. A chi ec u e Re iew (1977) commen ed “‘As a nice
place o li ing in’, i ails”; he i egula in e nal spaces we e u he desc ibed using wo ds
like “odd” and “da k and squalid”; he p e ious Vic o ian Slums on he si e was compa ed as
o e ing g ea e “human digni y”.
Howe e , 30 yea s la e , he Building Design Magazine (2008) desc ibed i as “Li ing
P oo o Success”. The Magazine e-exams how he esiden s had adap ed a e 30 yea s
in esidence. Ob iously, he esiden s a e inding i like a home. The “i egula balconies”
c i icized by he A chi ec u e Re iew was commen ed om he esiden s as
“Each o he owe la s had a small balcony. Las summe i was de igueu o block up he
ou le , ill up he wa e o he h eshold le el and he e was a small paddling pool o he
kids jus ou side he 20 h s o ey li ing oom window.” They con inued “I like he unusual and
qui ky design a lo ” and “I ’s awkwa d o i ing u ni u e bu in ini ely mo e in e es ing
han you a e age council block”
56 S uc u al Failu es in London’s Housing Ma ke o he New Gene a ion
We ha e o admi ha he high-densi y owe block solu ion is no he solu ion in he cu en
housing, bu i s lesson o he young a chi ec is, i s , ha i shows ha igid s anda ds a e
no he only pa h o a success ul li ing en i onmen - a design ha bends some ules can
s ill os e s ong communi y and esiden sa is ac ion, gi en ime and adap a ion. I also
illus a es he impo ance o e alua ing a chi ec u e no jus by d awings o egula ions, bu
by how i wo ks o people o e decades.
Chap e 6
Conclusions
Add essing London’s housing s uc u al ailu e equi es ac ion on mul iple on s - no single
change will be su icien o his complex p oblem. This chap e discusses a ange o
s a egies ha could be applied o alle ia e he c isis and make he ci y mo e accommoda ing
o he nex gene a ion o young g adua es.
6.1
Po en ial in e en ions o a mo e esponsi e housing
sys em
B amley e al. (2010) esea ch e eals he supe io i y o building mo e council housing
o e p i a e housing in ela ion o ca e ing he unme housing need. The e o e, one would
na u ally hink cons uc ing new social homes di ec ly bene i s he young g adua es and
u u e gene a ions who canno a o d ma ke p ices. Con idence is gi en by a his o y o
councils’ abili y o deli e hem a scale - o e 5 million council homes we e buil in he UK
be ween 1949 and 1980 (UK Pa liamen , 2025).
Howe e , we mus admi he e a e o he aspec s ha complica e his demand and supply issue.
One a gumen is ha he p o ision o housing migh be ci cula like building new oads:
he mo e we p o ide, he g ea e he demand. Holmans (2013) s udies concludes ha his
mainly happens a local a he han na ional le el. Tha being said, in some communi ies, he
supply o new housing may simply be occupied by mo e a luen in-mig an s (Hall and Wa d,
2014). The e o e, one gene al solu ion will be a mo e ca e ul app oach o he planning o
social houses, bo h cen ally and egionally. Fo example, he go e nmen mus i s ealize
58 Conclusions
how much he sho ages o he housing, and hus p o ide a s a egic plan in a na ional le el.
Below his le el, he local councils may hen c ea e sub- egional plan ha builds he igh
numbe o houses and igh ype o houses in he igh spaces.
A u he key issue is ha he expansion o social housing is es ained by land a ailabili y.
His o ically, go e nmen s and public de elopmen en i ies sys ema ically alloca ed hei land
ese es o bo h p i a e and social housing p ojec s wi hou implemen ing eplenishmen
mechanisms o hese public land in en o ies. This legacy has le housing associa ions
dependen on acqui ing land a in la ed ma ke a es o de elop social housing (Hall and
Wa d, 2014). Regene a ion o b own ield si es and he con e sion o edundan comme cial
space gain impo ance.
London’s de elopmen is physically cons ained by i s G een Bel - a ing o p o ec ed open
land a ound he ci y. A nuanced e o m o G een Bel policies could alle ia e some s uc u al
p essu e. This does no mean wholesale elimina ion o g een bel s, bu a ca e ul e iew
o iden i y low- alue o poo ly u ilized land ha could be eleased o sus ainable housing
de elopmen . Fo ins ance, pocke s o land a ound anspo nodes on he ci y’s edge ha a e
echnically “g een bel ” bu pe haps o low en i onmen al quali y could be e-designa ed o
high-densi y, ansi -o ien ed de elopmen ocused on a o dable housing. Llewelyn-Da ies
Planning, who a e commissioned o maximize he use o b own ield si es ound ha such
places migh p o ide o be ween 52,000 and 106,000 new homes in London. (Hall and
Wa d, 2014)
Ano he po en ial di ec ion is he con e sion o o he ypes o buildings. Wi h changing wo k
pa e ns (especially pos -COVID), London now has a signi ican amoun o unde -u ilized
o ice buildings. Recen da a show ha abou 9% o London’s o ices a e si ing acan , wi h
acancy a es as high as 20% in some a eas like Hamme smi h (Kollewe, 2025). Con e ing
e en a po ion o his space could yield ens o housands o new housing uni s wi hou
consuming new land.
To be ai , he abo e policy conside a ions a e being deba ed in he policy a ena in gene al
e ms wi h a o dable housing being a ge ed o ulne able g oups like he unemployed,
he long e m sick and disabled.The policy con e sa ions a e almos en i ely blind o he
p edicamen s o he young g adua es, who a e expec ed o end o hemsel es. The e is
cu en ly li le sense o wha help hey need. This is why he esea ch indings e ealed by
his disse a ion is cogen o u he policy de elopmen .
6.2 Summa y and u u e wo k 59
6.2 Summa y and u u e wo k
The esea ch indings e eal a e y dis u bing pic u e: London’s cu en housing sys em is
ailing o accommoda e i s new gene a ion o young g adua es. Chap e 1 showed ha despi e
a long his o y o housing e o m, oday’s young g adua e aces unp eceden ed a o dabili y
challenges. Chap e 2 e ealed ha he COVID-19 pandemic had only a ansien e ec on
whe e young adul s li e, and he deepe end is a s uc u al ageing o he ci y’s popula ion,
which has no been seen since pos WWII. Chap e 3 and Chap e 4 highligh ed a clea
misalignmen be ween housing supply and young Londone s’ needs and London is la gely
building he w ong ypes o housing in he w ong loca ions o he nex gene a ion o wo ke s.
I he s a us quo pe sis s, London may isk a g owing exodus o young alen . To a oid such
a u u e, bo h policymake s and a chi ec s mus ake decisi e ac ion. Policymake s mus
eshape housing supply—expanding a o dable and social housing, en o cing a o dabili y
quo as, and e o ming planning policies wi h he added ocus on he young g adua es. His o y
shows ha he ma ke alone a ou s weal h o e need; public in e en ion is essen ial o
suppo young en e s and buye s. A chi ec s, in u n, mus espond wi h inclusi e, inno a i e,
and economical designs. Toge he , planne s and designe s mus ensu e London builds no
jus mo e homes, bu he igh homes o i s nex gene a ion o wo ke s.
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