Last week, our director Kyle Buchanan participated in a vital discussion on London's housing crisis, hosted by the London Society at BDP's offices. The event brought together key voices including Housing Ombudsman Richard Blakeway and leaders from the social housing sector to address the pressing challenges facing London's rented housing market.

At Archio, we believe that quality housing is fundamental to community wellbeing, which is why Kyle's contribution focused on the critical connection between building quality and long-term housing sustainability. "The quality issues of existing homes is the result of them not being built properly in the first place," Kyle noted, highlighting our practice's commitment to creating homes that stand the test of time.

The discussion revealed stark statistics: over 180,000 Londoners currently live in temporary accommodation, while new affordable housing starts have dropped dramatically - from 26,386 to just 3,156 in the year to March 2024. These numbers underscore why our focus on delivering high-quality, sustainable affordable housing remains more crucial than ever.

The panel explored several key themes that align closely with Archio's values:

• The importance of building quality from the outset
• The need for better relationships between housing providers and residents
• The critical role of sustainable design in preventing future maintenance issues
• The challenge of delivering affordable homes in London's current economic climate

As a practice committed to regenerative affordable housing, we understand that creating homes isn't just about construction - it's about building sustainable communities. The event reinforced our belief that meaningful change comes through collaboration between architects, housing providers, and residents.

For more information about the London Society's work on housing, visit their website.

To learn more about Archio's approach to quality affordable housing design, explore our projects page or contact our team.

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