Murky Depths
@murkydepths.bsky.social
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murkydepths.bsky.social
Data out today shows housing starts in London falling further to near historic lows.

News out recently also shows cost of homelessness to London councils via lack of social housing reaching record highs.

This govt still has an ideological opposition to direct public housebuilding en masse
murkydepths.bsky.social
Steve Reed (Housing Sec) stating "this govt will build baby build".

Aside from cringe slogans this government *isn't* building.

It's expecting volume developers to do it.

Yet there's dozens of sites I've passed in recent days alone with planning permission for 5, 10, 20+ years going nowhere
murkydepths.bsky.social
It's a Reach title. Misleading headlines is their speciality
Reposted by Murky Depths
Reposted by Murky Depths
richard.hebditch.org
More quotes from Steve Reed: "a planning system that says no to everything and yes to nothing” (87% of major planning applications approved in most recent figures)
"We’re taking the fight directly to the blockers"
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Reeves and Reed to ‘bulldoze barriers’ in sweeping planning overhaul
Ministers promise pro-developer reforms to speed up housing, infrastructure and onshore wind projects ahead of next month’s budget
www.thetimes.com
murkydepths.bsky.social
Saxon Wharf development in Greenwich beside Deptford Creek.

A lot more high density blocks due along the creek. Some have stalled for years mind.
murkydepths.bsky.social
I note Wandsworth station, to give one example, is seeing a second entrance due to nearby development and using Section 106/CIL income.

Network Rail + Lewisham Council = must do better.

Notable Greenwich have also failed to support new entrances eg Woolwich Arsenal station via developer revenue
murkydepths.bsky.social
Lewisham station really could do with a second entrance due to the nearby building boom - and it not being put off based on the far-off prospect of a Bakerloo extension in 20+ years time.

Instead it's getting the cheaper option for now

www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2025/10/09/l...
Lewisham station to see upgrade and entrance changes for capacity improvement - Murky Depths
Lewisham station upgrade is set to see entrance changes to enhance capacity from next year according to Southeastern
www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk
murkydepths.bsky.social
Bexley Council has a new leader.

Not sure he'll last too long. Tories decimated in Kent and Dartford and Bexley is likely to go the same way

Claiming the south Thamesmead development as an achievement of the departing leader is odd when its glacial

www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2025/10/12/b...
Bexley Council gains a new leader in November - Murky Depths
Bexley Council have announced a new leader will take over from November as Teresa O'Neill steps down after 17 years in charge
www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk
murkydepths.bsky.social
Good to see some building underway in Stratford near Pudding Mill Lane DLR.
Reposted by Murky Depths
murkydepths.bsky.social
Thamesmead's new heart is a ghost town.

Almost 12 years after Peabody took over, acres of flattened land around here remain unbuilt.

In that time Peabody have completed just one phase of seven. Result = little footfall.

A look around the site. www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2025/10/10/n...
New heart of Thamesmead remains a ghost town years after completion - Murky Depths
The much lauded new heart of Thamesmead is a ghost town with few businesses or people seen as Peabody fail to build homes
www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk
murkydepths.bsky.social
Yep through building new council and social homes.

As it is this govt isn't doing that with affordable housing programme funds over this Parliament set at the same level in real terms as the last Tory govt.

The problem will keep getting worse with ever more billions paid to private landlords
murkydepths.bsky.social
Not sure they'll be any more successful than places like Ebbsfleet Garden City which is about 20 yes and counting. Drip feeding by private developers over a long period.

Even if all build out it's a fraction of need.
murkydepths.bsky.social
*fund new housebuilding
murkydepths.bsky.social
Central govt will do anything but properly find new social and council housebuilding. Happy to see billions flow to private landlords instead. Happening across governments.

Buying homes at current prices is extremely expensive and no net increase. Private renters often lose out. We need to build
murkydepths.bsky.social
Yes London councils you may now be spending well over a billion a year on homelessness but here, have £36.5m between you all and go fix the problem.

It's a nonsense announcement and shameful they're pushing it so much. Tone deaf
Reposted by Murky Depths
murkydepths.bsky.social
Cost to London councils of homelessness up 42 per cent over the last year. Now £5.5m a day.

In that context is today's funding announcement from govt a pisstake? Utterly feeble measures and funding again. Ever more public money to private landlords
murkydepths.bsky.social
Thamesmead's new heart is a ghost town.

Almost 12 years after Peabody took over, acres of flattened land around here remain unbuilt.

In that time Peabody have completed just one phase of seven. Result = little footfall.

A look around the site. www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2025/10/10/n...
New heart of Thamesmead remains a ghost town years after completion - Murky Depths
The much lauded new heart of Thamesmead is a ghost town with few businesses or people seen as Peabody fail to build homes
www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk
murkydepths.bsky.social
Cost to London councils of homelessness up 42 per cent over the last year. Now £5.5m a day.

In that context is today's funding announcement from govt a pisstake? Utterly feeble measures and funding again. Ever more public money to private landlords
murkydepths.bsky.social
There's 183k people including 75,580 children in temporary housing in London.

An extra £7.1 million is going to achieve next to nothing.

Over this Parliament this govt will not spend any more in real terms on affordable housing than last Tory govt - when crises grew exponentially