January 2025 Roundtable Meeting with Deputy Mayor of London for Housing – Tom Copley

The meeting discussed the challenges and solutions for affordable housing in London, focusing on the New London Plan and the need for significant investment. Tom Copley informed the collaboration group that the housing need assessment and target of the new government for London is 88,000 units per year for the duration of its tenure, a record high. The conversation highlighted the importance of planning, investment in affordable housing, and the need for a proper settlement for the sector. The Open University research team gave a progress update presentation on the Amar Bari Amar Jibon (Bangla Elders) Research project, the joint Bangla HA/Open University/Housing LIN initiative. The presentation covered the impact of poor housing quality on health, particularly among older Bangladeshi communities, and the need for culturally sensitive housing solutions. The meeting emphasized the continuing importance of community engagement and the potential for innovative housing models to address these challenges.