0:00:00 > 0:00:00Here on BBC One it's time for the news where you are.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13A very good evening.
0:00:13 > 0:00:14London's housing crisis is one of the biggest
0:00:15 > 0:00:17challenges facing our city.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19Today, as the Mayor set out his vision for the capital,
0:00:19 > 0:00:22he outlined how he'll tackle the shortage of homes.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25Sadiq Khan says he'll rip up existing planning rules in order
0:00:25 > 0:00:28to meet his target of building 65,000 homes a year -
0:00:28 > 0:00:32half of them affordable.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34And it could mean bigger housing developments being built
0:00:34 > 0:00:36in suburban town centres.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40Here's our political editor, Tim Donovan.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42The station at Twickenham, home of English rugby,
0:00:42 > 0:00:44is finally being redeveloped.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47But of the 115 homes to be built here, precisely
0:00:47 > 0:00:51none will be affordable, a concession granted so the scheme
0:00:51 > 0:00:57could be finished in time for the World Cup in 2015.
0:00:57 > 0:01:02At the time, the planning committee were pressured to accept
0:01:02 > 0:01:04a scheme with no affordable, because they wanted the development
0:01:04 > 0:01:07to be completed in time for the Rugby World Cup.
0:01:07 > 0:01:08You will notice...
0:01:08 > 0:01:09In time for that?
0:01:09 > 0:01:11That we are not quite on schedule.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14Very disappointing, very disappointing.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17It seems absurd to me that you couldn't provide some level
0:01:17 > 0:01:19of affordable on a site this big.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22It just really is a question of, are you prepared to build
0:01:22 > 0:01:26at a high enough density?
0:01:26 > 0:01:29Are councils like Richmond, with among the lowest building
0:01:29 > 0:01:32rates in the capital, now in the Mayor's sights?
0:01:32 > 0:01:34You've got to make more of opportunities like this
0:01:34 > 0:01:36when they arise, believes the Mayor.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38Build higher, certainly here in the suburbs,
0:01:38 > 0:01:42create more density.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45And because this is a station, it's a chance to change behaviour.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47You can insist on fewer cars by allowing fewer
0:01:47 > 0:01:50car parking spaces.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52Today he chose Barking Riverside, the biggest regeneration project
0:01:52 > 0:01:57in Europe, to outline his plans.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59Experts have told him the capital needs 43,000 affordable new homes
0:02:00 > 0:02:03to be built each year.
0:02:03 > 0:02:07He wants more small-scale developers involved,
0:02:07 > 0:02:09and the current restrictions on density, how many homes that can
0:02:09 > 0:02:12be squeezed onto sites, lifted.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14What I'm saying to developers, what I'm saying to councils,
0:02:14 > 0:02:17what I'm saying to housing associations is, it is possible,
0:02:17 > 0:02:20with good design, to meet the needs of Londoners.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23That means high-density, good-quality homes.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25What about outer London in particular - is that where
0:02:25 > 0:02:26there's been the failure to now?
0:02:26 > 0:02:28All councils will have targets, all councils will know
0:02:29 > 0:02:33what the expectations are.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36Outer London, as well as in London, and inner London had problems
0:02:36 > 0:02:38around infrastructure.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41One of the reasons we are here in Barking Riverside is to see
0:02:41 > 0:02:42the difference having infrastructure can make.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44If outer London boroughs have the assistance they need,
0:02:44 > 0:02:47I'm sure they can build good quality, high density homes.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49But to his opponents, it's a threat to the suburbs.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52Outer London is going to be made to look like inner London.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55Now, people live in the suburbs because they like it,
0:02:55 > 0:02:58because it's greener, because there's more space.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00And what he's actually done is he has declared
0:03:00 > 0:03:04war on outer London.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07As a result of all these policies, it's going to be browner,
0:03:07 > 0:03:11more overcrowded and hard to get around.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13The mayor has pledged to strengthen protection for the greenbelt.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16That went down well here in Ilford today.
0:03:16 > 0:03:18What we did here, we got loads and loads of people,
0:03:18 > 0:03:20thousands of people involved.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23Chris led a campaign to fight off plans to turn the 60
0:03:23 > 0:03:25acres of playing fields into a housing estate.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28As far as we're concerned, it's now saved.
0:03:28 > 0:03:37The council have taken the plan off the shelf and said, that's no good,
0:03:37 > 0:03:41we are saving Oakfield for sport and for the community.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44But the local council, Redbridge, still wants to reclassify and build
0:03:44 > 0:03:47on a tenth of its green belt, saying it's the only way
0:03:47 > 0:03:50to provide the houses needed.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54Every available means should be used to build new homes, says the Mayor.
0:03:54 > 0:03:59Clashes over location, type and scale seems certain to follow.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06On average, 100 families are evicted from their homes every day
0:04:06 > 0:04:08in London and the South East.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10We've spoken to two families who say they feel helpless
0:04:10 > 0:04:13and confused by the system.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15Now charities are calling on councils to intervene earlier
0:04:15 > 0:04:17to support people in social housing struggling to manage
0:04:17 > 0:04:19their money before it reaches the point of homelessness.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22Chris Rogers reports.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26Tomorrow morning, this family could be homeless.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28They have been evicted.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30They have nowhere to go.
0:04:30 > 0:04:31So, this is all of your belongings?
0:04:31 > 0:04:33Yes.
0:04:33 > 0:04:34And you haven't unpacked?
0:04:34 > 0:04:41No, I haven't.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43There's little point in unpacking when you know
0:04:43 > 0:04:44an eviction notice is coming.
0:04:44 > 0:04:45This is my eviction letter.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47Your temporary accommodation at the above address
0:04:47 > 0:04:49will end on Thursday, the 30th of November.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51Michael and Alison were evicted from their social
0:04:51 > 0:04:52housing home in Islington.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54They fell thousands of pounds behind in rent.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56The council offered them this house, 20 miles away,
0:04:56 > 0:04:59in Purfleet, in Essex.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01It says that it is your fault you are homeless.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04Yes, that is not true.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06They say they're struggling to understand the system,
0:05:06 > 0:05:08their rights and obtain the paperwork needed
0:05:08 > 0:05:09to get housing benefit.
0:05:09 > 0:05:14Alison has mental health problems and can rarely leave the house.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17Michael is struggling to get work and focuses on taking
0:05:17 > 0:05:19care of the children.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22So, where do you think you're going to end up next?
0:05:22 > 0:05:27We're not sure what's going to happen, as we say,
0:05:27 > 0:05:32because we're only now looking into other services like Shelter.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35We asked Islington Council why the family were being held
0:05:35 > 0:05:37responsible for their homelessness.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40They told us it could have done more if it had been contacted
0:05:40 > 0:05:43earlier in the process.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45Kim Stewart is an outreach worker with the charity
0:05:45 > 0:05:49School Home Support.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52Michael and Alison are one of 10,000 struggling families her charity has
0:05:52 > 0:05:55tried to help this year.
0:05:55 > 0:06:00Homelessness, overcrowding and eviction.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03I mean, it's very confined in this place anyway.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07So the only place they can play in here is in the corridors.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09This is the second time Kim has had to help Stacey,
0:06:09 > 0:06:12a single parent with four children.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15This room, with no toilet or kitchen, is all she can afford.
0:06:15 > 0:06:19In rent arrears, she was evicted from her council house in August.
0:06:19 > 0:06:24Now this landlord wants her out because of her son's behaviour.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26So basically they're going to give you an eviction
0:06:26 > 0:06:27notice because your son...
0:06:27 > 0:06:29Touched a fire extinguisher.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31This is a son that's got ADHD?
0:06:31 > 0:06:33And autism, yes.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37High rents, welfare reform and life choices all play their part.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40But is eviction always necessary?
0:06:40 > 0:06:43There's a lack of communication and home visits, if you've
0:06:43 > 0:06:44done a home visit.
0:06:44 > 0:06:49If the housing association, the council had done a home visit
0:06:49 > 0:06:55when things start building up, if you've got a debt you get
0:06:55 > 0:06:57people writing you a letter saying we've got a debt.
0:06:57 > 0:06:58That gets building up.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01Go do a home visit, see what's going on.
0:07:01 > 0:07:02Actually understand what the families are going through.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05On average, 100 families are evicted every day.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08Chris Rodgers, BBC London News.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14Since the Grenfell tragedy brought fire safety into the spotlight,
0:07:14 > 0:07:16BBC London has revealed several safety issues with tower
0:07:16 > 0:07:19blocks across the capital.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21Now structural problems have been found in another estate,
0:07:21 > 0:07:24this time in Fulham, where fire wardens are
0:07:24 > 0:07:26on patrol 24 hours a day.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30Gareth Furby has this exclusive report.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32Two 1960s tower blocks in Fulham.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34But are they safe?
0:07:34 > 0:07:36Perhaps not.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40In an empty flat, structural engineers have now cut away concrete
0:07:40 > 0:07:45to expose cracking where the floors join the walls.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48A fire safety expert we've spoken to, who is not connected
0:07:48 > 0:07:55with the structural investigation, says this is an alarming discovery.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59Because such cracking is seen throughout the blocks,
0:07:59 > 0:08:02it may mean a fire could not be contained in a flat.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05Instead, he says, it could spread throughout the building.
0:08:05 > 0:08:10What could happen here is, because of the lack of fire
0:08:10 > 0:08:12stopping, the smoke and fire could spread from flat
0:08:12 > 0:08:16to flat, vertically.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19Following the structural investigation and the discovery
0:08:19 > 0:08:22of the cracking, fire safety wardens have now started patrolling
0:08:22 > 0:08:26the tower blocks 24 hours a day.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28Their brief is to get residents out as quickly
0:08:28 > 0:08:32as possible if a fire starts.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35But some residents are concerned.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37Hammersmith and Fulham council insists with wardens in place
0:08:38 > 0:08:41the residents are safe.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45But last night they faced some tough questions.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47And, for this woman, Lexa Reid, it was repeating a scene
0:08:47 > 0:08:53that the BBC filmed back in 1984.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56How does this message get back that some of us want out?
0:08:56 > 0:09:00Even then, she was worried about the safety of these blocks.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03Will you tell me that these flats are going to be safe?
0:09:03 > 0:09:05In July, after the Grenfell disaster, she wrote
0:09:05 > 0:09:08to the London Fire Brigade demanding an urgent investigation
0:09:08 > 0:09:13into the safety of the blocks.
0:09:13 > 0:09:18Now, fire wardens are patrolling outside her flat.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21It always takes a disaster before anything is done
0:09:21 > 0:09:23anywhere, doesn't it?
0:09:23 > 0:09:27Whatever it may be, whether it be a fire or whatever.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30I believe that we did everything we can to keep residents safe.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33The worst thing we could do is cause panic among our own residents
0:09:33 > 0:09:37and put them out of a home if we can make them safe with fire
0:09:37 > 0:09:39wardens, extra precautions, which is what we've been
0:09:39 > 0:09:40doing to date.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44The council says next week a new alarm system will be fitted
0:09:44 > 0:09:47in the blocks and the Fire Brigade is going to check every
0:09:47 > 0:09:50flat for fire safety.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55I'll say goodnight now and it's over to Nick Miller
0:09:55 > 0:09:56for a check on the weather.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02I think the picture behind you says it all?
0:10:06 > 0:10:09I can't hide it from you, temperatures have not dropped too
0:10:09 > 0:10:12far this evening but they have further to go. We have seen a bit of
0:10:12 > 0:10:15cloud across, but I think after midnight a lot of that will
0:10:15 > 0:10:21disappear. Frost taking over the map. We will be at or just below
0:10:21 > 0:10:25freezing as Thursday begins. Another frosty start to the day. Under clear
0:10:25 > 0:10:28skies, the first part of the day, there will be a lot of sunshine,
0:10:28 > 0:10:31more than we have seen today. Into the afternoon, there will be some
0:10:31 > 0:10:34patchy cloud coming through from time to time. Temperatures, just
0:10:34 > 0:10:37heading up to about three or four micro degrees. The wind is making it
0:10:37 > 0:10:41feel colder. Tomorrow evening, especially tomorrow night, turning
0:10:41 > 0:10:44more interesting as we start to see some wintry showers beginning to
0:10:44 > 0:10:50move across. If you icy patches developing is well into Friday
0:10:50 > 0:10:55morning. Sunshine following during Friday. The showers start to fade
0:10:55 > 0:10:59away. A change of wind direction going into the weekend. Milder air
0:10:59 > 0:11:01starting to move in, but with plenty of