The London Assembly has reported a 20% decrease in the number of births in London in 2023 compared to the peak in 2012, particularly in inner London. This decline has raised concerns among experts who attribute the trend to rising living costs and insufficient social housing, making it challenging for families to afford living in the city.
Katherine Hill, a child poverty campaigner, highlighted the need for London to become a “child-friendly city,” emphasizing that affordable housing and childcare are crucial for families to remain in London while raising children. She pointed out that many families are being priced out of areas where they previously lived due to the lack of social housing options.
Dr. Bernice Kuang, a researcher in demography, acknowledged that Londoners desire to have an average of two children, but many find this impractical given the current housing landscape, which has shifted from social housing to private renting. The mayor’s office noted that various factors, including decreasing birth rates on a national scale, Brexit, and the rising cost of living, contribute to falling numbers of primary school pupils in inner London.
While the mayor’s office claims to have initiated more council homes than since the 1970s and has supported free school meals for primary school children, the committee continues to express concerns over the affordability and availability of childcare in the city. The average cost of childcare for three to four-year-olds in inner London is considerably high, and many areas are identified as “childcare deserts.”
Additional worries also include a perceived lack of public green spaces for children, which could further impact family stability and community health. The Assembly has previously predicted a decline in reception pupil numbers by 3.6% over the next four years, potentially leading to the closure of many primary schools, which Hill suggests would alter the community dynamics significantly.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0l7pzx6602o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss