Almost a year since the general election, London's housing crisis is still escalating. The government’s recent Spending Review vows to prioritise housing with the Affordable Homes Programme, but the scale at which the crisis has affected all walks of life is unparalleled. This was underscored at the London Housing Summit held by Centre for London, the think tank dedicated to a more prosperous city.  

  

The summit brought together leaders and practitioners from across the built environment to confront the city’s deepening housing challenges, and centred on two urgent questions to challenge the crisis:  

 

 

 

Despite MP Florence Eshalomi’s forward-looking keynote, in which she laid out Labour’s vision to meet housing needs through equitable housing provision and long-term affordability, she also highlighted how urban areas—particularly London—have borne the brunt of the housing crisis.  

 

The immediate challenges facing Londoners were addressed in the first panel discussion, on Decelerating the Housing Crisis. Councillor Grace Williams stressed that this is not simply a crisis of housing supply, but one of inequality: tens of thousands of Londoners are homeless, housing delivery is faltering, and many boroughs are facing financial collapse.  

 

With London boroughs spending millions each week housing people in unsuitable temporary accommodation, there is an urgency for more ambitious approaches to address this inequality.  

 

The rest of the panel, which included Professor Yolande Barnes, advocated for new economic models and better use of repurposing stock to ensure sustainable, long-term income. With London’s already aged population, the conversation also highlighted the need for more alternative housing models.  

 

The discussion ended with a reflection on the culture and socio-economic meaning of ‘home,’ particularly in the context of the UK and London. Ben Twomey of Generation Rent challenged the prevailing idea of housing as a profit-driven asset, arguing for a reframing that centres housing as a public good—integral to wellbeing, health, and dignity. 

 

A series of breakout sessions explored specific aspects of the housing crisis, including regulating London’s short-term rental market, ending the temporary accommodation trap, and envisioning future housing pathways. 

 

One standout session was a scenario-based workshop led by Centre for London’s research team. Participants were presented with three provocative and hypothetical visions of London’s housing market in 2035. Through this exercise, we identified who would be most affected by each scenario, the systemic risks involved, and the opportunities for proactive change. It was a powerful reminder that shaping London’s housing future requires collaboration.  

 

A closing panel on London’s Housing Future, chaired by L&Q’s Fiona Fletcher-Smith, explored the path forward. While housing delivery remains difficult, panellists emphasised the importance of partnerships—such as the collaboration between Barratt West London and Places for London—as a model for moving ahead. 

 

With this cautious optimism came necessary questions raised about balancing growth with maintenance, which warned the panel and audience of the risks of reinforcing social stigma through estate demolition.  

 

Also, while the green transition offers the potential to equip the next generation with vital skills, the provision and access haven’t caught up. This is a plea for us to work harder to attract and retain talent in the construction industry, through breaking down misconceptions and investing in skills such as apprenticeships.  

 

In all, the summit reinforced that solving London’s housing crisis requires more than new homes—it demands bold leadership, structural reform, and shared responsibility across the Treasury and built environment sector.