Affordable housing made available for West End workers

West End workers with low salaries who are not prioritised for social housing will be now be able to apply for affordable accommodation in the heart of the capital, owing to a pilot flagship scheme launched last week by Westminster City Council.

As rent, transport and living costs continue to rise across the capital, workers that form an integral part of the West End's economy, such as market traders, performing artists, Special Constables and hospitality sector workers, are left with ever fewer affordable housing options.

To reconnect the West End's exceptional diversity of markets, theatres and hotels with its workforce, Westminster's Fair Share Housing Scheme which has been welcomed by Housing Minister Grant Shapps MP, will provide high quality sub-market rent accommodation in central London on a shared basis, with rents at a third cheaper than private sector rents.

In addition, with introduction of the Government's new housing benefit changes from January 2012, single people under 35 will no longer receive Housing Benefits based on one bedroom self-contained accommodation. This scheme will facilitate the under 35's to find shared accommodation within central London and extend eligibility for Housing Benefits.

Cllr Jonathan Glanz, Westminster Council's Cabinet Member for Housing and Corporate Property, said:

"The aim of this innovative scheme is to highlight and address the housing needs of London's dynamic workforce.

"With recent changes to housing benefits for single occupants and with living and transport costs increasing, local authorities must come up with alternative ways to accommodate those on a London Living Wage who keep our local economies thriving.

"In Westminster, we are working to provide fairer and more affordable housing options to lower-earning individuals who play a vital role in the economic life of the West End."

Housing Minister, Grant Shapps MP, has welcomed the move, he said: "London's economy will only continue to grow if working people are not priced out of the rental market.

"I welcome Westminster's innovative thinking and hope that other councils will use the greater freedoms we're giving them to think about how to help local workers live close to their work."

The scheme is a working example of the proposals set out in the council's Civic Contract, launched in November 2011, which sets out how Westminster is keen to foster strong relationships between work and citizenship. These bonds can be forged by cutting down on commuting hours, giving people more time to volunteer and contribute locally and by the provision of a fair and flexible housing allocation process.

But just how affordable this acccomodation will actually be remains to be seen. It unquestionably a step in the right direction I believe, but can low priority Westminster council residents really hope to ever afford to live in the area comfortably?