One in every 21 children in London are homeless – that’s the equivalent to at least one homeless child in every London classroom. No matter how many times we read them, statistics like this don't get any less shocking. As one of the capital’s largest landowners, we, at Places for London, can play a leading role in helping solve this crisis.    

  

We’re already making huge progress. Work has started on sites across London that are delivering more than 4,000 homes, and more than 1,600 homes have been completed, of which 58 per cent are affordable homes.  But we can’t do any of this alone.    

  

In June, we saw the completion of our first 100 per cent affordable site - in partnership with Lambeth Council. Forty-six new social rent homes on the Fenwick Estate in Clapham North are now ready to house 150 people from the housing waiting list and in temporary accommodation.  

Earlier this summer, we announced that Ballymore has been selected as the joint venture partner for our development at Limmo Peninsula in Newham. The scheme will comprise 1,400 homes, 40 per cent of which will be affordable. It will also see a new bridge from the Limmo to Canning Town, as well as the construction of new publicly accessible green open space and a new river walkway.  

  

Increasingly, we’re establishing multi-site partnership vehicles to enable us to accelerate the pace and scale of delivery: we have formed a strategic partnership with Barratt London, which has the potential to provide over 4,000 homes and create almost 10,000 jobs. By combining our land and skills with Grainger’s expertise and experience in the Build to Rent sector, we are providing thousands of homes including 40 per cent affordable housing across multiple sites.   

  

We work strategically with Network Rail, combining land, funding and resource, with collective potential to bring forward transport improvements and many thousands more homes across London – especially when we combine our joint land with other public land - with boroughs like Westminster and Greenwich.  As two of the most significant landowners in London - together with Network Rail we own 14,000 acres in London and 654 stations across the capital - it makes perfect sense for our organisations to work together.   

  

The key to the success of all our partnerships – is having aligned values, ambitions and commitment. With our partners, we are focused on building high-quality, affordable, and sustainable homes in accessible locations often above or near transport hubs. That doesn’t mean that we always agree – we, as partners, are open and willing to challenge each other – but in a constructive way.   

  

We also bring different things to the party. As the public sector partner, we bring the land, the access to stakeholders and a long-term view. Our private sector partners bring a delivery mindset, commercialism and a necessity for pace. Typically, we both contribute significant financial investment, and share in risk and return.  

  

We are also always encouraging our partners to do better. For example, through early adoption of our Sustainable Development Framework - we are setting expectations that the projects deliver best-in-class outcomes cross three core sustainability objectives.  

  

Working jointly with likeminded partners helps unlocks our own expertise, skills and talent. Collaboration also helps to empower our people and further encourage innovation and creative problem-solving.     

    

We all want a better-connected London with housing for all and that starts with great relationships today.