Prospective MP Tim Barnes spoke with Cllr Paul Swaddle, Leader of the Conservative Group at Westminster City Council, on the challenge of providing more affordable housing, especially for key workers, in Westminster. 

So we are here in Hyde Park and I'm joined this evening by Councillor Paul Swaddle, who's the Leader of the Conservative Group. And we want to talk about one of the complicated issues to do with housing and that's intermediate housing. Paul, what can you tell us about intermediate housing here in Westminster?

Paul explained

Well, intermediate housing is aimed at people who are not so badly off that they need social housing but equally can't afford the full rent in Westminster, which is unsurprising all things considered. But intermediate housing provided by the council gives an opportunity for key workers and other workers in our City to be able to take up local residence. And it's something that, unfortunately, this Labour council is cutting.

Tim responded

That's just really appalling because we've got a kind of camel hump for housing in this part of the City, with housing at one end, which is affordable in the private sector to the very rich and those doing well.

And we have social housing, but we don't have enough in the middle.

We don't have the ability to help the people who want to move and progress through the housing spectrum.

And that's one of the things that I'm very keen that we address in the future. 

Please share your experiences of housing in Westminster.