Housing matters in an area of social housing but rising land values.
People in Somers Town don’t want to be pushed out by development that gentrifies the neighbourhood. People here, even the higher earners, can’t afford to buy or pay market rents. Even 80% of market value, so called ‘affordable’ homes are beyond the means of most local people.
We need homes that:
- relieve overcrowding
- so people can stay near to their families and jobs
- maintain a sustainable community
- affordable in relation to local income not the market
Somers Town has some fine examples of public housing from the past 100 years. These should be celebrated and expanded.
The Somers Town Neighbourhood Plan advocates using different delivery mechanisms, like Community Land Trusts, for building homes and other important community amenities.