New London Architecture (NLA), in partnership with Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, has launched an international competition to tackle the capital’s housing shortage. Â
New Ideas for Housing London will provide opportunities for entrants to submit a proposal free of charge. Winners will then work with the Greater London Authority to see how their ideas could be put into practice. Â
Peter Murray, the chairman of NLA, said: “There is a lot of debate about housing numbers, about standards and planning issues, but there seems to be a dearth of new thinking. We hope this Insight Study will unearth ideas that housing providers, architects and others are thinking about and would like to promote and spread, including innovative ideas from overseas.”
Submissions for the competition could address planning, funding, construction, procurement, design or products. The aim is to find deliverable solutions rather than theoretical concepts.
Overseas entries are encouraged, which could bring a global perspective but entrants must demonstrate an understanding of London’s specific needs.
London’s 33 local authorities have argued that the city is facing the worst housing supply crisis since the Second World War, and that the housing shortfall would exceed half a million units by 2021 unless drastic action was taken.
The scarcity of homes is hitting renters hardest: one local politician has claimed that rental prices for the average property had increased by £3,000 every year since 2010.
Find out more about the competition here.
The competition is sponsored by Aecom and property developer GL Hearn.
Image: Model of Y:Cube temporary housing project (Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners)
