Property

Redbridge’s bold plan to relocate homeless residents outside London amid housing crisis

Saturday, 8 November 2025 5:05AM UTC

Redbridge Council aims to alleviate pressures on its housing system by relocating homeless residents outside London, as it struggles to meet ambitious development targets amid soaring costs and demand.

Redbridge Council is set to move homeless residents outside London to alleviate pressures on temporary housing and reduce escalating costs. This strategy forms part of a broader homelessness and rough sleeping plan unveiled recently, which includes the enlistment of a ‘relocation provider’ aimed at sourcing housing solutions beyond the borough and across the country. The council acknowledges residents’ preference to remain in East London near familiar schools and workplaces but cites a chronic shortage of affordable and social housing locally as a driving force behind the decision.

The strategy emphasises expanding housing options in areas with lower demand and shorter waiting times, which the council claims can offer more affordable and suitable accommodation, especially for larger families. This move also reflects Redbridge’s urgent need to trim temporary accommodation costs amid a forecasted £23.5 million overspend on its housing budget. Currently, over 2,800 families in Redbridge live in temporary accommodation, with 7,500 awaiting social housing. According to the council, waiting times on the social housing register can exceed 20 years, with many in critical situations, such as homelessness or severe medical need, unlikely to secure council housing at all.

To address these challenges, Redbridge is also placing a heavier focus on homelessness prevention. Its strategy highlights early intervention methods that identify the root causes of housing crisis, offering comprehensive support in areas such as benefits, bills, employment, and housing alternatives. Prevention is positioned as a less costly and less distressing approach than dealing with homelessness after the fact.

Beyond relocation and prevention, the council has ambitious construction and acquisition targets, aiming to build 600 new council homes by next year and acquire 800 rental homes by 2028. Notably, it is on course to complete 159 new homes at Luxford Lane shortly. Despite these plans, Redbridge has consistently lagged behind its housing goals, having met only 14% of its new housing target for 2024, falling significantly short of the London Plan quota by over 1,100 homes. The council has also succeeded in bringing 107 privately-owned homes, once empty for over six months, back into use over the past year.

The backdrop to this acute housing crisis includes the lasting effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, which housing cabinet member Saima Ahmed attributes to delays in homebuilding and leasing. She also points to escalating living costs and the worsening affordable housing shortage as factors increasing homelessness risk in the borough. The local authority has seen record numbers seeking help for housing crises, which puts further strain on their budgets.

Financially, Redbridge Council faces substantial pressures. Its 2023/24 audit report revealed a £42.2 million overspend, with a further projected £41.2 million overspend anticipated for 2024/25. These overspends are largely attributable to surging demand and costs in adult social care, children’s services, and especially temporary accommodation, an area where expenditure has become particularly burdensome. A cumulative budget gap of £91.6 million by 2029/30 underscores the ongoing financial challenge.

The council’s recent budgets reflect an attempt to balance service protection with these fiscal constraints. The 2025/26 budget includes significant investments across services, allocating £205.5 million for new temporary accommodation, £37.8 million for new council homes, and £12.3 million for homelessness support. Despite these efforts, the council must navigate a complex funding landscape marked by substantial government cuts exceeding £160 million since 2010.

Redbridge’s holistic housing strategy also incorporates managing temporary hostels and expanding bed spaces for rough sleepers, aiming for a comprehensive response to homelessness. However, the shortfall in affordable housing supply and the reliance on expensive temporary accommodation remain critical issues, necessitating the council’s dual focus on prevention, relocation, and increasing housing stock.

In summary, Redbridge is grappling with a severe housing crisis characterised by soaring demand, protracted social housing waits, and ballooning costs for temporary accommodation. The council’s new strategy to relocate residents outside London, alongside ambitious housing development and acquisition plans, represents an urgent response to financial and social pressures. Yet, longstanding challenges in meeting housing targets and funding shortfalls indicate that significant hurdles remain in securing stable, affordable homes for all residents.

📌 Reference Map:

^[1] (Yellow Advertiser) - Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
^[4] (Redbridge Housing Strategy 2023-2028) - Paragraphs 3, 7
^[5] (Redbridge Audit Report 2023/24) - Paragraphs 6, 7
^[6] (Open Council Network) - Paragraph 7
^[2] (Redbridge Budget 2025/26) - Paragraph 7
^[3] (Redbridge Budget 2024/25) - Paragraph 7
^[7] (Redbridge Council Tax Breakdown) - Paragraph 7

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.yellowad.co.uk/redbridge-council-to-move-homeless-residents-out-of-london-to-reduce-cost-and-waiting-times/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.redbridge.gov.uk/news/feb-2025/redbridge-delivers-budget-that-protects-and-invests-in-vital-services-for-the-people-of-the-borough/ - In February 2025, Redbridge Council approved a balanced budget for 2025/26, aiming to protect vital services despite financial challenges. The budget includes £8.1 million for new leisure centres, £6.1 million for street cleansing, £20.9 million for maintaining highways, £8.7 million for weekly bin collections, £12.3 million for supporting homeless people, £205.5 million for new temporary accommodation, and £37.8 million for new council homes. The council has faced significant funding cuts, losing over £160 million since 2010, making this budget crucial for maintaining essential services.
https://www.redbridge.gov.uk/news/march-2024/redbridge-council-approves-a-balanced-budget-protecting-vital-services-despite-funding-challenges/ - In March 2024, Redbridge Council approved a balanced budget for 2024/25, focusing on protecting vital services amid funding challenges. The budget prioritises maintaining weekly bin collections, street cleansing, and investing in housing to address the national housing crisis. Despite reduced government funding, the council aims to rise to the challenge by investing in housing and reducing reliance on expensive private rents, ensuring everyone has a warm and stable home for their family.
https://www.redbridge.gov.uk/media/11807/housing-strategy-2023_final.pdf - Redbridge's Housing Strategy 2023-2028 outlines objectives to prevent homelessness and assist households in finding affordable accommodation. The strategy includes supporting households at risk of homelessness, providing assistance to remain in their current homes when suitable, and helping those who need to relocate outside the borough to find alternative affordable accommodation. The council also manages temporary hostels and has increased the number of bed spaces available for rough sleepers through various developments.
https://www.redbridge.gov.uk/media/2rznhx3c/london-borough-of-redbridge-final-audit-results-report-23-24.pdf - The London Borough of Redbridge's Final Audit Results Report for 2023/24 highlights significant financial pressures, with a £42.2 million overspend in 2023/24 and a projected £41.2 million overspend in 2024/25. The overspends are primarily driven by rising demand and increasing costs in adult social care, children's services, and temporary accommodation. The council is forecasting a cumulative budget gap of £91.6 million by 2029/30, indicating ongoing financial challenges.
https://opencouncil.network/meetings/70083 - The Open Council Network meeting on 19 June 2025 reviewed Redbridge Council's Budgetary Control Report for 2024/25, revealing an overspend of £15.317 million. The overspend was driven by pressures in homelessness, particularly the high cost of temporary accommodation, and increased costs in adult social care due to demand for care packages and the use of agency staff. The council is working to address these financial challenges through various measures.
https://www.redbridge.gov.uk/council-tax/how-council-tax-is-spent/ - Redbridge Council's breakdown of council tax expenditure for 2025/26 includes £454.1 million for children's services, £146.7 million for adult social care services, £11.4 million for leisure services, £58.9 million for environmental services and highways, £12.9 million for regeneration and property, £44.8 million for housing, £165.7 million for customer care and benefits, £9.9 million for corporate services, £904.4 million for general fund services, £43.6 million for the housing revenue account, £23.5 million for capital financing, £32.4 million for unallocated costs and contingencies, £21.7 million for levies, and a total gross expenditure of £1,025.6 million.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative was published on 7 November 2025, indicating recent coverage. The strategy to relocate homeless residents outside London was unveiled recently, suggesting timely reporting. However, similar initiatives have been reported in the past, such as the 'Home Truths' campaign in August 2024, where Redbridge Council considered moving residents to areas like Coventry and Scunthorpe due to escalating housing costs. ([standard.co.uk](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/london-council-homeless-temporary-accommodation-rents-cost-redbridge-b1176403.html?utm_source=openai)) This prior coverage may indicate that the current report is based on previously available information, potentially affecting the freshness score. Additionally, the report references a 'recently unveiled' homelessness and rough sleeping plan, which may be based on earlier press releases, warranting a higher freshness score. The earliest known publication date of substantially similar content is August 2024. The narrative includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.

Quotes check

Score: 7

Notes: The report includes direct quotes from housing cabinet member Saima Ahmed, such as attributing the worsening housing situation to the Covid-19 pandemic. A search for the earliest known usage of this quote reveals that similar statements have been made in previous reports, indicating potential reuse of content. The wording of the quotes varies slightly across sources, suggesting paraphrasing rather than direct reuse. No online matches were found for the exact wording, raising the score but flagging it as potentially original or exclusive content.

Source reliability

Score: 6

Notes: The narrative originates from the Yellow Advertiser, a local news outlet. While it provides coverage of local events, its reputation and verification processes are not as established as those of major news organisations. This raises questions about the reliability of the information presented. The report references official documents from Redbridge Council, such as the Housing Strategy 2023-2028, which adds credibility to the claims made. ([redbridge.gov.uk](https://www.redbridge.gov.uk/media/11807/housing-strategy-2023_final.pdf?utm_source=openai)) However, the reliance on a single, less-established source warrants caution.

Plausability check

Score: 8

Notes: The claims made in the narrative align with known issues in Redbridge, such as the chronic shortage of affordable housing and the high number of families in temporary accommodation. The council's Housing Strategy 2023-2028 acknowledges the need to increase the supply of housing, particularly for local people on low incomes and families. ([redbridge.gov.uk](https://www.redbridge.gov.uk/media/11807/housing-strategy-2023_final.pdf?utm_source=openai)) The reported figures, such as over 2,800 families in temporary accommodation and 7,500 on the housing register, are consistent with previous reports. The narrative's tone and language are consistent with official council communications, suggesting authenticity. However, the lack of coverage from other reputable outlets and the reliance on a single source raise questions about the comprehensiveness of the information.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative presents information that aligns with known issues in Redbridge, such as the shortage of affordable housing and the high number of families in temporary accommodation. However, the reliance on a single, less-established source and the potential reuse of content from previous reports raise questions about the freshness and originality of the information. The plausibility of the claims is supported by official council documents, but the lack of coverage from other reputable outlets warrants further scrutiny.

Homelessness
Housing Strategy
London Boroughs