Challenges to Urban change

• Employment

  • There is a wage disparity and London's economy consists of 96% service industry positions, often low-paid with zero hours contracts
  • Many migrants are exploited and are paid below minimum wage and have to work several jobs to meet basic needs
  • Unemployment increases in areas which are more deprived. Often people do not have the skills or education to have employment and if they do it is poorly paid. Many people in Tower Hamlets (a poor area) cannot get jobs in Canary Wharf despite the close distance.
• Housing

  • The cost of housing is above average in London and there is a huge housing disparity
  • There is not enough housing in London and many people who have grown up in London will struggle to ever to get a house
  • Many rented houses are overpriced and are in poor conditions: made worse in recent years.
• Deprivation

  • Some areas of London are very deprived. For example, in Newham over 50% of people who are receiving benefits. Life expectancy is an indicator of deprivation. In london if you travel from west ham to Knightsbridge on the jubilee line life expectancy increases from 78 years to 90 years- that's 12 years difference just depending on where you live
• Health

  • People have different levels of health depending on where they live due to poverty and deprivation
• Education


  • The quality of schools varies largely depending on where they are
  • It is always a big struggle to provide enough good schools and it is very competitive amongst parents