LSE London

10/08/2026

In June, Padua hosted an important international conversation about the future of our cities. As part of the 12th Barbara Cappochin International Architecture Biennale, the conference “Social Housing and Sustainable Cities: International Experiences in Comparison” brought together architects, urban planners, researchers and policymakers from across Europe.

The discussion looked at how cities can respond to the growing need for affordable and sustainable housing, while creating inclusive neighbourhoods and better public spaces.
Experiences from Vienna, Paris, Barcelona, Italy and Spain offered different perspectives on social housing, urban regeneration and building communities through better-designed cities.

Our Deputy Director Kath Scanlon were part of this international exchange in Padua, contributing to a conversation that remains highly relevant as cities rethink what it means to live well, affordably and sustainably.

31/07/2026

How many homes we build is only part of the question. How big they are, what we build them from, and whether we reuse and share what already exists may matter just as much.

That was the focus of Unaffordables, a roundtable in Copenhagen hosted by VELUX, Artelia and EFFEKT with the Copenhagen Architecture Forum — bringing together people in design, policy, and finance to ask how housing actually gets built, who gets access to it, and why homes that start out affordable so often don't stay that way.

LSE London's Distinguished Policy Fellow Kath Scanlon on why cities are so hard to fix:

Watch the full conversation: 👇

VELUX, Artelia and EFFEKT Hosts Roundtable discussion on Affordable...

18/03/2026

We've just published the first-year evaluation of Good Home Lincs. Over 12 months, the service supported 233 households with housing repairs and practical casework support.
What stood out: Two-thirds of clients had health conditions made worse by cold, damp, and poor housing. But here's the thing—repair grants alone weren't enough. Most people needed someone to help them navigate funding, fill out forms, and connect with local services.

The interventions weren't expensive, but they required real coordination between housing teams, energy advisers, and local councils. Read the full evaluation to see what works 👇
https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lselondon/good-home-lincs-first-year-evaluation-highlights-casework-and-coordination/

01/02/2026

Our year started with great news. Professor Tony Travers, Director of LSE London, has been awarded a CBE for services to public service.

From local governance to public finance and the ideas shaping government policy, his work has made a lasting contribution to strengthening local government in the UK. A proud moment and a very well-deserved recognition.

https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lselondon/lse-londons-tony-travers-recognised-with-cbe/

17/11/2025

Housing pressures in London continue to grow, and Hackney faces some of the toughest challenges. Our latest report explores how intermediate housing could support young adults and lower income households who have little access to social housing. The report is based on 18 months of research led by LSE London with local partners and sets out practical ways forward. Take a look and share your thoughts.

Read Here: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lselondon/intermediate-housing-in-hackney-finding-a-way-forward/

04/11/2025

The moment Shadow Housing Secretary James Cleverly cited LSE London’s report in Parliament during the stamp duty discussion. (28 October 2025)

Here’s the full report:https://lse.ac.uk/geography-and-environment/research/lse-london/documents/Reports/Lessons-from-stamp-duty-holiday-LSE-London-Report-2021.pdf

Read, reflect, and share your thoughts in the comments.

13/10/2025

London councils are facing a growing housing crisis. A new LSE London report finds boroughs spent £543 million on temporary accommodation last year — but more than £223 million of that wasn’t covered by government funding.

Across the capital, the shortfall is now £740 million, putting essential local services at risk. Read more: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lselondon/the-subsidy-gap-thats-bankrupting-boroughs-inside-londons-temporary-accommodation-crisis/

23/09/2025

As part of the Domestic Abuse Duty evaluation, LSE London and the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion (CASE) carried out a Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) on how to assess the value for money of support provided in safe accommodation.

The REA draws on UK and international evidence to show robust ways to measure outcomes — from immediate healthcare costs to long-term impacts on wellbeing and employment — while also recognising survivors’ lived experiences.

https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lselondon/value-for-money-in-domestic-abuse-services-insights-from-rapid-evidence-assessment/

03/09/2025

Is London’s new plan really built for the future? Our latest LSE London blog explores stakeholder feedback on the Mayor’s consultation, highlighting gaps in strategic thinking, housing, infrastructure, and community engagement.

Read Here: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lselondon/towards-an-effective-london-plan/

02/09/2025

UK house prices unexpectedly fell in August as high mortgage costs dampened activity. The average price for a home dropped by 0.1% to £271,079 compared with July, according to Nationwide Building Society. Economists had expected a rise of 0.2%, according to a poll by Reuters.

The annual rate of house price growth slowed to 2.1% in August, from 2.4% in July, Nationwide said.

Read more 👇

Average price for a home drops by 0.1% to £271,079 in August compared with July, according to Nationwide