£211m housing upgrade plan approved for City of London estates

A £211 million housing upgrade programme has been approved to improve the quality, safety and sustainability of nearly 3,000 homes owned by the City of London Corporation across London, marking one of the most significant long-term investments in its housing stock for a generation.

The decision, confirmed at a meeting of the Court of Common Council, commits £152 million from the City’s Fund to support major works across 12 City-owned housing estates in the Square Mile and six London boroughs. The remaining funding will come from existing housing resources, taking the total investment to £211 million over ten years.

The programme will deliver extensive upgrades to around 2,900 homes, including new kitchens and bathrooms, replacement windows, modernised heating systems, refurbished lifts, electrical improvements, roof works and upgraded communal spaces. The estates are located across Hackney, Islington, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark and Tower Hamlets, as well as within the City itself.

City officials say the scale of the investment reflects rising pressures faced by social housing providers, including higher construction costs and tighter safety and compliance standards. The funding package will also help close a long-standing shortfall in the organisation’s Housing Revenue Account, a challenge mirrored across many councils nationally.

Chris Hayward, Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation, said the decision underlined the authority’s responsibility to its residents.

“Providing good-quality, safe homes for our residents is a fundamental responsibility, and today’s decision demonstrates our absolute commitment to that duty,” he said. “This is a major investment in people, communities, and the long-term future of our estates.”

Helen Fentimen, Chair of the City Corporation’s Community and Children’s Services Committee, described the funding as a decisive moment for residents.

“This investment marks a turning point for our residents and our estates and ensures we can continue to deliver on the programme of major works and improvements that is already underway,” she said. “Our residents deserve safe, warm, high-quality homes, and this next phase of the Housing Investment programme will deliver exactly that.”

The announcement comes amid growing national scrutiny of housing conditions and landlord responsibilities, with organisations such as Shelter highlighting the link between long-term underinvestment and poor living standards in parts of the social housing sector. According to the charity, sustained funding is critical to ensuring homes meet modern expectations for safety, energy efficiency and wellbeing.

The City of London Corporation has already invested more than £110 million in its housing stock in recent years. Officials say the new programme builds on that commitment, with a focus on long-term sustainability rather than short-term fixes, and on maintaining standards once major works are completed.

Further details on the City’s housing estates and responsibilities can be found via the City of London Corporation’s housing pages, while wider context on housing quality and standards is explored by groups such as the National Housing Federation, which represents housing associations across England.

For more independent reporting on housing, local decision-making and the issues shaping life across the Square Mile, follow EyeOnLondon City and explore our in-depth coverage of the city and its communities.

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