In a move to clean up the image of many of the derelict neighbourhoods in London, Mayor Boris Johnson has revamped and brought back into use more than 1,700 buildings. A total of 133 abandoned, unused properties in Bromley, Bexley, Greenwich, Lewisham and Southwark have also been revamped to serve as housing for families.
According to an article in This Is Local London, one of the aims of the initiative was not only to improve the image of communities, but also to revitalise them. Further plans under the Mayor?s London Housing Strategy is to renovate at least 3,000 empty homes.
In order to bring these long-term unused buildings back to life, funding has reached a total of ?60 million, of which ?39.9 million has already been released to boroughs around London.
Mr. Johnson said: ?Empty homes are not only a waste of resources but also a travesty for the communities in the south east region of London. They devalue neighbouring properties and for the people living near them they act as a magnet for crime.?
In the longer term, the London Housing Strategy aims to provide 50,000 affordable homes to the citizens of London before the Olympics in 2012. At the basis of the plan is Mayor Johnson?s belief that potentially decent homes should not be left unused, particularly in the light of the housing shortage.
The plan is to deliver both ?quality and quantity? while maintaining affordability for families who need homes. In this way, the homes are envisioned to bring transformation to both individuals and communities.
