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Proud to be building council homes

I’m often asked what the council is doing to build more homes that are affordable for local people. It is an important question, so I hope you’ll bear with my slightly longer intro this week as I answer it.  

So what is the council doing? 

Firstly, we’re investing in extending the life of the affordable homes we already have.  Southwark is by far the biggest council landlord in London, with a quarter of our residents already living in a council home. We’re investing £250million to give these homes a new lease of life. 

We’re also building new council homes. More than any other council, with over 3,000 starting on site since 2016, over 500 completed in 2024 and 16 active sites today.
In total, there are 1,442 social rent homes currently being built that all started since the adoption of the Southwark Plan in 2022. These figures include both council rent and those homes managed by registered housing providers. You can see them right across the borough, on sites from Bankside to Dulwich and everywhere in between. 

Just as importantly, we take a firm stance with private house builders to make sure they build affordable homes too.

You’re probably asking, ‘but what do you mean by affordable?’  On that we have strict rules.  House builders have to include both social rent homes and one or more of shared ownership, London Living Rent, key worker, Community Land Trusts or discount market sale homes. 

Thanks to our firm stance, 25% of those homes given planning permission in the last four years are social rent homes, and another 15% are other types of affordable home such as shared ownership.  

In fact, a fifth of all the social rent homes started in London last year were here in Southwark. That’s despite the fact we’re just one of 32 boroughs in the city. 

There’s much more to do. After 14 years of homelessness rocketing across our country thousands of people urgently need a home they can afford. That’s why we’ll continue to use every opportunity to build more truly affordable homes in Southwark to meet the needs of our community.

Cllr Kieron Williams

Leader of Southwark Council

Planning a party?

The Kirby Estate victory party, 1945

>> How will you mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day?

Eighty years ago people across Southwark got the bunting out to mark VE Day.

If you would like to mark the 80th anniversary with your neighbours, why not hold a street party?

We don't charge any fees to close your street and remember to apply by 6 April.

>> Burgess Park outdoor cooking facilities are re-opening for spring

With spring just around the corner, Burgess Park’s outdoor cooking facilities are reopening!

Starting this Saturday (April 5) you can enjoy the recently installed electric hotplates, available daily throughout the summer.

Operating hours are; April - 10am to 8.30pm and May - 10am to 9pm

>> Nunhead spring craft fair - 12 April

Join the Nunhead Community at their Spring Craft Market from 1pm to 4pm where you can buy products made by local people including personalised goodies, handmade sweets and cakes, arts and crafts.

There will also be musical entertainment and refreshments from the Community Café.

The Green Community Centre, 5 Nunhead Green, SE15 3QQ.

>> Bodysnatchers walking tour - 5 April

Discover 19th century Southwark's shadowy past, where surgeons trained and demand for dissection subjects fuelled a grim underground trade.

Book your ticket for the 90 minute tour starting at 12 noon in Guy's Courtyard, SE1.

>> Egg-citing Easter activities in Southwark libraries

Join the fun at your local Southwark library with storytelling, crafts, and robotics workshops. You can create your own Easter bunny or chick and join the Easter egg hunt!

>> Book your Easter swim school place now

Our popular swim school spaces are filling up fast so book now to avoid disappointment.

It’s a great way to keep the kids moving and having fun over the holidays.

>> Kids' activity Easter holiday clubs - book today

The UK’s leading provider of holiday clubs are running fun Easter activity clubs for children aged 5 to 11 years at our leisure centres in Peckham, Camberwell and Elephant & Castle.

Book a fun-filled week of activities.

>> Learn to cycle safely this Easter

Free cycle training sessions for families are the perfect way to get the kids involved and active this Easter. Learn to ride a bike or improve basic cycling skills with qualified instructors and free bikes to borrow. 

Latest news

Inside of a Bakerloo train

>> Have you Backed the Bakerloo yet?

Over 27,000 of you have now pledged your support to Back the Bakerloo, calling for the Upgrade and Extension we need for Southwark and the rest of London.

By taking a couple of minutes to sign the pledge, you’ll be helping to get the investment we so desperately need.

>> How we are investing in you this year

We want to make sure every resident understands how we spend council funds on their behalf. Here is how much council funds we spend, per household per month, on vital services:

• Children’s social services: £47.49
• Adult social services: £43.31
• Waste & street cleaning: £22.64
• Culture & Leisure: £18.85
• Environmental health & trading services: £5.21

>> Time to get snappy! Enter our photo comp now

Are you a young person aged 11 to 19 years with a passion for photography or just enjoy taking photos?

Share a compelling photo of Southwark from your perspective for a chance to win a £50 prize for you or £200 towards your youth project, and have your work displayed in Southwark

>> No joining fee and no membership contract at your council leisure centre. Join today.

Join and pay £0 joining fee at one of our Move Southwark leisure centres throughout April using promo code MOVEJF.

Enjoy all the health benefits plus unlimited gym, swim and classes, multi-site access, free online classes, BOX 12 training and much more!

>> Rent useful household items - now open in East Dulwich and Elephant & Castle

You can now rent useful household items, like drills, carpet cleaners and projectors at our any of our three Library of Things sites. 

Reserve online for as little as £1.50 per day, pick up at one our sites, and return once you’ve finished.

Have your say

Council housing

>> Housing Allocations survey

This consultation invites you to view and share your views on our Housing Allocation Scheme, which sets out how we allocate social rented housing in Southwark. It is important that we hear from as many people as possible on these proposed changes, and we encourage you to respond to the consultation with your views. 

Staying healthy

>> Are you a new parent struggling with your mental health?

Many things can affect our mental health as parent or carers, including social isolation or lack of sleep. Our Start for Life team offer support sessions to guide you through this tricky time. You can find out more by watching the above video.

>> Easter holiday clubs for 4 to 16s - Book now

If your child gets benefits-related free school meals they can join one of our many Food and Fun holiday clubs (from 7 to 17 April). The weekday clubs run fun activities and provide healthy and free food.

>> Bowel cancer: symptoms and screening

Bowel cancer is the 4th most common cancer in the UK. Knowing the symptoms is important to spot it early. The earlier it's found, the more treatable it's likely to be. If you're 50 to 74 and registered with a Southwark GP you'll get a home bowel screening kit, which can find cancer early before you have any symptoms. COVID-19 vaccines

>> Breast screening: you'll be invited if you're 50 to 71

If you're registered with a GP as female you'll be invited by post every three years. It's the most common type of cancer in women in England. Regular screening can spot a cancer that is too small to feel or see yourself – it saves around 1,300 lives each year.

>> Free Weight Watchers support if you are 18+

You may be eligible for 12 weeks’ free weight loss support, including virtual expert coaching, and discounted gym membership. You'll need to have certain body mass index (BMI), and be a resident or be registered with a Southwark GP to apply.

>> Sign up for Rose Vouchers to help buy fresh fruit and veg around Southwark

If you're pregnant or have children aged under the age of five (until 31 August), you may eligible for vouchers if you get Universal Credit, Healthy Start, are on a low income or have no recourse to public funds (NRPF) for example as a refugee or asylum seeker.

Happy birthday Southwark!

LBS first council meeting. Courtesy of Southwark Archives

>> This year marks the 60th anniversary of the creation of the London Borough of Southwark

Tuesday April 1, was an important milestone: the day in 1965 that the London Government Act 1963 came into effect. The Act created Southwark and the other 31 London boroughs, making this year Southwark's 60th birthday.