London rail lines to be ‘boxed in’?

ENGINEERING consultant WSP has suggested London’s open-air rail routes could provide a solution to the capital’s housing crisis.

WSP believes ‘boxing in’ around 10% of the city’s 1,142km of surface railways could create enough space to develop around 250,000 new homes – enough to satisfy demand for five years at current levels of growth.

Since 2000, London’s population has grown by an average 95,000 people each year, but in 2016/17 just 6,423 homes were completed.

Official figures suggest around 50,000 new homes are needed each year to keep up with demand.

Read more in December’s issue of The RM – on sale now!