By Becky Chesson and Shrawani Dhurve
Outside Islington Council, photographed by Shrawani Dhurve
Islington Council announced last week that they are providing more affordable homes for residents. The initiative will see the council buy and build more genuinely affordable homes, which include two new future developments at Barnsbury Estate and Holloway Park.
The council have said that planning permission has been granted for 33 homes for social rent at the Vorely Road development alongside 23 social rent housing on the Bemerton Estate South, and an 135 additional social rent housing on the Barnsbury Estate development. The council have also purchased a total of 707 homes.
Executive Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods at Islington Council, Councillor John Woolf, stated on the council website, “This work shows how we’re making it happen for families across the borough, and we will keep pushing to provide the high-quality, genuinely affordable homes our communities need.”
The current council figures show that more than 16,500 households are on the housing register in Islington waiting for social housing, and homelessness has risen by 25% in London.
Outside Islington Council, photographed by Shrawani Dhurve
John Paciello, 58, a local Islington resident, said, “It’s the first I am hearing about this initiative. I think it’s a really good idea, I pay £1,000 a month to live in a box.”
The average rent in Islington, according to the Office for National Statistics, is currently £2,716 per month as of December 2025, a 2% increase on the previous year. First-time buyers are paying an average of £607,000 for a home, and mortgage buyers are paying £669,000 as of December 2025.
Sameer Gop, 22, student, said, “I do believe it’s a good idea from the council, more affordable housing is definitely needed in the community for sure.”
The council have said that the ongoing housing crisis continues to be a significant challenge, but they will “use every power available to deliver more genuinely affordable homes for residents who need a safe and secure place to live.”
Infographic created by Becky Chesson, based on statistics from Islington Council
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