A crisis for the next generation – is London just for the wealthy? Surface Design Show 2018 discusses the polarising topic affecting young Londoners

A crisis for the next generation – is London just for the wealthy? Surface Design Show 2018 discusses the polarising topic affecting young Londoners

Surface Design Show (6-8 February 2018) is not only renowned as the event in the UK to discover the best in new surfaces for the built environment but also as having a programme of events that have been carefully curated to inspire and engage the audience of architects, designers and specifiers.

Surface Design Show kicks off with the live debate on the 6 February looking at one of the most important topics facing young Londoners today: “A crisis for the next generation – is London just for the wealthy?”. The debate will be asking how we address the fundamental housing problems affecting young people in the capital. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) London’s average house price in 2015 was £472,000 – a figure 13.5 times the UK’s average, while between 2005 and 2016 average private rents in London rose 38% but average individual earnings rose just 21%,  according to a report by the Mayor of London. With these kind of statistics it is not surprising that many of today’s young people simply cannot afford to buy, rent or live in London.

Previous generations could be accused of overlooking the position of young people (those between 18-25), who see the future ahead of them and question what is in it for them. The challenges are manifold: a lack of social housing, low cost housing and key worker housing; poor quality in the private rented sector; sky-high pricing in the purpose built private rented sector and little to no chance of getting onto the property ladder. If these problems are not addressed more young people will have no choice but to leave London for more affordable cities. Young professionals need housing options that are affordable, accessible and sustainable.

Chaired by Peter Murray, Chairman & Co-founder of New London Architecture, the panel of experts will be attempting to view London through the lens of young people in an effort to give them a voice:

Ben Derbyshire, RIBA President, Chair of HTA Design

Louise Wyman, Head of Strategic Land, Homes & Communities Agency

David Lunts, Executive Director at Housing and Land, Greater London Authority

Zohra Chiheb, Project Architect at Levitt Bernstein

Date: Tuesday 6 February 2018 from 6.30pm until 8.00pm

Location: Business Design Centre, Islington, London, N1 0QH

Attendance is free of charge by registering at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-crisis-for-the-next-generation-is-london-just-for-the-wealthy-tickets-41074263227?aff=affiliate1

Surface Design Show showcases the newest and best surfaces that the design industry has to offer. Connecting innovative and exciting materials with an audience of architects, specifiers and designers, Surface Design Show is the only event in the UK that focuses solely on interior and exterior surfaces.

https://sds18-visitor.reg.buzz/

For a full programme of events visit www.surfacedesignshow.com/whats-on.

Registration for the show is now live.

For Further information and images please contact Cora Kemp [email protected] 07903481131

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