Anniversary of empty building protest : housing crisis is ‘nothing compared to now’
On the anniversary of the 1974 protest against a vacant building now 34,000 lay empty in the capital while Londoners fight high rent prices and limited space.
On the anniversary of the Centre Point building occupation in 1974, today data still shows thousands of buildings empty in the capital.
Latest figures show that the number of empty buildings in the capital is at its highest since 2010. Despite one in 50 Londoners being homeless or in temporary accommodation and over 300,000 people on the social housing waitlist.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan calls it a “scandal”, especially during a housing crisis. The Mayor is calling on the government for more funding and support and urges ministers to make it easier for councils to take over empty homes.
In the wealthy borough of Kensington and Chelsea, City Hall estimates that the 3,000 vacant buildings could be worth £2.2bn.
This week marks the 50th anniversary of the occupation of the Centre Point building which lay vacant for ten years. Over 70 protestors occupied the building for three days to draw attention to it being empty during a housing crisis.
Protestor Ron Bailey told The Guardian 50 years on "it's pretty much like now."
Fellow protestor Mary Evans Young says the housing crisis then was "nothing compared to now".
Hannah, owner of Paper Street Vintage told City News that 'every inch' of her property is used. It's a vintage shop by day, a gig spot by night and a yoga room in the back. The profit from these businesses helps combat increasingly high rent .
The Hackney spot sells a variety of vintage clothes as well as a unique gig venue attracting many up-and-coming artists.Londoner Hannah says her vintage shop helps with rising rent.
When asked about the thousands of empty buildings in the capital Hannah commented on the Hackney Walk renovation. She criticised the £100m project, the shops within which are no longer used.
They kicked all those people out, to build big shops like Nike and now they are unused. They needed to be far more community-based.
Hannah, Owner of Paper Street Vintage
The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities told City News that they have reduced the number of long-term empty buildings by "more than 38,000 since 2010" in the hope of creating new homes for communities.
“Councils have the power to increase council tax by up to 300% on long-term empty properties and take over empty homes by Compulsory Purchase Orders and Empty Dwelling Management Orders."
They say they have laid out an ambitious long-term strategy and are on track to deliver one million homes this Parliament.
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HeadlineAnniversary of empty building protest : housing crisis is ‘nothing compared to now’
Short HeadlineHousing crisis is 'nothing compared to now'
StandfirstOn the anniversary of the 1974 protest against a vacant building now 34,000 lay empty in the capital while Londoners fight high rent prices and limited space.
On the anniversary of the Centre Point building occupation in 1974, today data still shows thousands of buildings empty in the capital.
Latest figures show that the number of empty buildings in the capital is at its highest since 2010. Despite one in 50 Londoners being homeless or in temporary accommodation and over 300,000 people on the social housing waitlist.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan calls it a “scandal”, especially during a housing crisis. The Mayor is calling on the government for more funding and support and urges ministers to make it easier for councils to take over empty homes.
In the wealthy borough of Kensington and Chelsea, City Hall estimates that the 3,000 vacant buildings could be worth £2.2bn.
This week marks the 50th anniversary of the occupation of the Centre Point building which lay vacant for ten years. Over 70 protestors occupied the building for three days to draw attention to it being empty during a housing crisis.
Protestor Ron Bailey told The Guardian 50 years on "it's pretty much like now."
Fellow protestor Mary Evans Young says the housing crisis then was "nothing compared to now".
Hannah, owner of Paper Street Vintage told City News that 'every inch' of her property is used. It's a vintage shop by day, a gig spot by night and a yoga room in the back. The profit from these businesses helps combat increasingly high rent .
The Hackney spot sells a variety of vintage clothes as well as a unique gig venue attracting many up-and-coming artists.Londoner Hannah says her vintage shop helps with rising rent.
When asked about the thousands of empty buildings in the capital Hannah commented on the Hackney Walk renovation. She criticised the £100m project, the shops within which are no longer used.
They kicked all those people out, to build big shops like Nike and now they are unused. They needed to be far more community-based.
Hannah, Owner of Paper Street Vintage
The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities told City News that they have reduced the number of long-term empty buildings by "more than 38,000 since 2010" in the hope of creating new homes for communities.
“Councils have the power to increase council tax by up to 300% on long-term empty properties and take over empty homes by Compulsory Purchase Orders and Empty Dwelling Management Orders."
They say they have laid out an ambitious long-term strategy and are on track to deliver one million homes this Parliament.
