The exodus of families from London could lead to primary school closures in outer boroughs like Waltham Forest and Redbridge, as highlighted by housing campaigner Manny Hothi. Declining birth rates, rising housing costs, and the burdens post-Brexit and Covid have caused a significant drop in school applications, with a notable 20-30% decrease over the past decade. The situation might worsen if not addressed by the Government with a substantial increase in housing development, risking further decline in community sustainability within the capital.
“Anyone who lives in the city or has lived in the city for any amount of time will not be surprised by what we are seeing. People feel like this is no longer a place they can raise their kids unless they are really wealthy.”
“You can see in the data that this is happening most in central London boroughs at the moment, where prices are higher. You can see areas where there is a 20 to 30 per cent drop in primary school applications in the last 10 years, but it is fanning out.”
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