New housing incentive to keep artists in London
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London-based arts agency, Create London, is campaigning to keep artists living and working in the capital through a project to build affordable housing.
The project is in partnership with the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (LBBD) which will be contributing to our Future Cities Forum research event at Burlington House in London on 13th June.
Provisionally titled 'A House for Artists', the Barking scheme will be designed by young London architectural studio, Apparata (Astrid Smitham and Nicholas Lobo Brennan). Due to open in 2018 the new build scheme will be placed within a diverse residential quarter close to train and tube links. It will be composed of a new community arts centre, studio workspace, and 12 affordable rental apartments for artists. The LBBD and Create London aim to offer a rental price at approximately 65% of normal market rents. The 12 flats will be rented on a long-term basis.
The project is funded by the LBBD with support from the Mayor of London. Jules Pipe, Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and Skills says 'It is vital that artists and people working in the creative industries are able to afford to live and work in the capital. This scheme shows how innovative new housing on small sites can support this with the backing of the local authorities, as well as offer artists ways to contribute to their communities,
Hadrian Garrard, Director of Create London adds ' Everyone deserves a roof over their heads and that includes artists. This project challenges standard models of affordable housing by proposing a more community minded way of living'.