London borough to encourage migration north but Council says ‘no room in Bradford’

7:00am Tuesday 19th February 2013 in Bradford Photograph of the Author By Chris Young, T&A Reporter

A London borough which is considering moving poor families to parts of the North to ease its own housing crisis has been firmly told there is no room in Bradford. Camden Council hopes to encourage hundreds of families to migrate to other parts of the country as benefit cuts make it harder for them to rent London properties.

Areas reportedly targeted by the council include Bradford, Birmingham and Leicester.

But the policy has angered politicians in the district, who say Bradford is already running low on houses, jobs and school places without the migration of hundreds of families from the capital.

Councillor Val Slater, Bradford Council’s executive member for housing, said: “There is often a misunderstanding, especially in London and the South, that Bradford is a low demand area with a plentiful supply of housing.

“This is not the case as there are currently 20,000 people wanting social housing, we have ten per cent overcrowding in some areas of the city and there is also sufficient demand for privately rented properties.

“We also have a severe shortage of school places, especially in those areas where families and children would be likely to be relocated.

“We have advised Camden Council of Bradford’s position.”

Labour-run Camden blames the Government’s welfare cuts for making it impossible for poorer families to stay in the borough, which has the fourth highest rents in the UK.

It says a £500 benefit cap means 761 families, 2,817 people, would “struggle” to afford rent and may have to look to cheaper, northern cities. They are in the process of contacting these families and offering them advice.

It has denied it has chosen any particular city to move people to, and has merely compared rent costs between Camden and other areas.

Its leader Sarah Hayward said: “The scale of the cuts, high private rental costs and lack of available housing in Camden will mean that more people will soon have to consider moving from the borough and in some cases London entirely.”

The council says it would only move people as a last resort, and has yet to speak to any other authorities about their plans.

But Councillor Adrian Naylor (Ind, Craven), criticised it for even considering “off-loading” people to Bradford, pointing out that the district already had a waiting list of 21,000 families.

He said: “We are already being forced to build 45,000 new houses. A result of the ‘let’s move them out of London’ thinking means we might have to build even more.We don’t have the jobs for these people either. This doesn’t help Bradford in any way, shape or form. It is just like shifting deckchairs on the Titanic.”

Comments(31)

angry bradfordian says...
8:39am Tue 19 Feb 13

Where has it been 'reported' that Bradford has been targetted?
It seems quite an important point to actually know if this is fact or is this just innuendo & scaremongering?

I have family who live near Camden and most people who live there think it's completely fair that people shouldn't be paid massive benefits to live in the nicer areas where working people can't afford to rent. You never hear that in the media though!

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Cooperlane2 says...
9:26am Tue 19 Feb 13

Throw up some shipping containers on brownfield sites, install communal kitchens/toilets...c
heap accomodation.

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Gabbysgran says...
10:14am Tue 19 Feb 13

Cooperlane2 wrote:
Throw up some shipping containers on brownfield sites, install communal kitchens/toilets...c heap accomodation.
Alternatively hint that they should get a job instead of living off the British taxpayer - a lot of these pople are "trouble tenants" and dont deserve decent housing anyway, they have spent years committing crime and terrorising thir neighbours and/or coming over from Eastern Eurpe to see what they can scam off us - well tough, the streets of the UK aren't paved with he amount of gold you originally thought. I am sure there are some genuine "hard luck" cases but I bet they are in the minimum!

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birday says...
10:18am Tue 19 Feb 13

angry bradfordian wrote:
Where has it been 'reported' that Bradford has been targetted?
It seems quite an important point to actually know if this is fact or is this just innuendo & scaremongering?

I have family who live near Camden and most people who live there think it's completely fair that people shouldn't be paid massive benefits to live in the nicer areas where working people can't afford to rent. You never hear that in the media though!
I really do doubt this is scaremongering. The countries in trouble - it's run out of money. The government needs to keep a roof over the heads of too many people who have no money to do it themselves - it's a disaster for the public.
.
Bradford's in a very bad place. Talk to anyone who works in the public sector such as the police, nurses, doctors, teachers, social workers, councillors etc and what's happening will scare you to death. Talk to people in the business community and they'll tell you even more scarey stuff. Crime's happening in broad day light, where there are CCTV cameras and people around. People no longer feel safe in their own homes. Old and new immigrants are fighting amongst themselves in Bradford and really bizarre things are happening when it comes to solving housing issues by the community.
.
Bradford is absolutely not the place to send people from Camden. Camden are going to need to find other towns and cities to move people or other housing solutions. Perhaps they should be negotiating with other countries to take these people.

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ertnec says...
10:26am Tue 19 Feb 13

What is it coming to when people are being forced to move and why to Bradford, I know people here that have been waiting for years for a home many that work and pay taxes. Is it not time that The Government stoped the private landlords charging so much down south, I know a family who work but are on low income that have to find £400 a week for a two bedroom flat its totally insane and the landlord does no repairs. the family have to ask their elderly parents for help every week. Families who cause anti social behavior no matter the circumstances should be evicted and not re homed their is to many goody two shoes sticking up for these families if you want to help let them move into your bloody homes and see how u like it.

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Albion. says...
10:35am Tue 19 Feb 13

"But the policy has angered politicians in the district, who say Bradford is already running low on houses, jobs and school places without the migration of hundreds of families from the capital."
Or from various parts of Eastern Europe and the Indian subcontinent.

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Gabbysgran says...
10:37am Tue 19 Feb 13

Albion. wrote:
"But the policy has angered politicians in the district, who say Bradford is already running low on houses, jobs and school places without the migration of hundreds of families from the capital." Or from various parts of Eastern Europe and the Indian subcontinent.
Absolutely!

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Gabbysgran says...
10:49am Tue 19 Feb 13

I have no doubt the Council will now employ yet another overpaid "service manager" when they back down and accept thousands of these people and put them to the top of the housing list - lets see - Camden resettlement Liaison officer!

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Andy2010 says...
12:14pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Gabbysgran wrote:
Albion. wrote:
"But the policy has angered politicians in the district, who say Bradford is already running low on houses, jobs and school places without the migration of hundreds of families from the capital." Or from various parts of Eastern Europe and the Indian subcontinent.
Absolutely!
Completely agree

And just wait until next year when the Romanians and Bulgarians join us.

This country not just Bradford is now beyond repair

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Prisoner Cell Block A says...
12:16pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Camden

Resident

Allocation

Person


Make your own acronym.

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Outraged English Subject says...
12:23pm Tue 19 Feb 13

This seems to confirm that the Country as a whole sees the Bradford district as a dumping ground.

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mad matt says...
12:33pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Typical southeners' attitude - they expect the rest of the country to get them out of a mess. What about the south getting us out of a mess for a change.

Talk about the North - South divide!

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Rambo says...
12:33pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Andy2010 wrote:
Gabbysgran wrote:
Albion. wrote:
"But the policy has angered politicians in the district, who say Bradford is already running low on houses, jobs and school places without the migration of hundreds of families from the capital." Or from various parts of Eastern Europe and the Indian subcontinent.
Absolutely!
Completely agree

And just wait until next year when the Romanians and Bulgarians join us.

This country not just Bradford is now beyond repair
The T&A have reported themselves that Bradfords population is due to increase 20% in the next 10 years. I don't remember the actual figures but it was around 100,000 - the fastest growing population outside of London.

Where exactly are all the jobs, schools, services, houses etc for this massive population spike? A relative has worked in the health service for 30 years in inner Bradford and says some parts are at breaking point as things stand right now.

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EvryDysLkSndy says...
12:35pm Tue 19 Feb 13

I saw this on BBC news over the weekend, absolutely disgraceful - "Tell you what we'll do, ship all our scrotes up North, they can have them, best to keep the wealthy voters down here on side!" If they want to drive house prices down and ease overcrowding why don't they encourage the wealthy residents to come up here, the move would be more affordable for them and they can spend their money here and boost our economy rather than sending their workshy, scroungers to be a further drain on our already overstretched, overcrowded, public facilities, hospitals etc. It's time the interests of the native Bradfordians were addressed instead of shipping in yet more parasites to increase the hardships for the, ever decreasing, number of hardworking taxpayers. Interestingly this is not the first time this has happened the Wapping area off Bolton Road/Otley Road is so called because in the 19th century they cleared the slums of Wapping, East London and moved the residents to Bradford . . . plus ça change . . .

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BILLTILL says...
12:45pm Tue 19 Feb 13

I think this is a great idea .Parts of Bradford are the perfect dumping ground for these people ,they will fit right in .

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Prisoner Cell Block A says...
1:19pm Tue 19 Feb 13

EvryDysLkSndy wrote:
I saw this on BBC news over the weekend, absolutely disgraceful - "Tell you what we'll do, ship all our scrotes up North, they can have them, best to keep the wealthy voters down here on side!" If they want to drive house prices down and ease overcrowding why don't they encourage the wealthy residents to come up here, the move would be more affordable for them and they can spend their money here and boost our economy rather than sending their workshy, scroungers to be a further drain on our already overstretched, overcrowded, public facilities, hospitals etc. It's time the interests of the native Bradfordians were addressed instead of shipping in yet more parasites to increase the hardships for the, ever decreasing, number of hardworking taxpayers. Interestingly this is not the first time this has happened the Wapping area off Bolton Road/Otley Road is so called because in the 19th century they cleared the slums of Wapping, East London and moved the residents to Bradford . . . plus ça change . . .
Really? You know I lived just off Otley Road most of my childhood and never knew that. Thanks, nice bit of historical info.

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jozieme says...
1:36pm Tue 19 Feb 13

We are always assuming that anyone receiving housing benefit is not deserving aren't we......It is right that this should be capped so that a regulated maximum amount is available It's obvious that Unscrupulous landlords will charge whatever thay can get away with, that applies in Bradford as well.I'm always at a loss when Bradford council reels off the fact that WE HAVE TO BUILD 45,000 more homes!! who for?? not anyone who is earning less than £30,000 per annum and then they have to save 20% deposit..So none of this relates to the potential homeless of Camden does it.None of us know the true facts about the amount of houses and flats that are 'tinned' up .....there are over 250 on Allerton estate alone( a fact not fiction)all of them potential homes for the 20,000 WE have on the waiting list .. Councillor Sykes in the T & A some months ago pointed this out. but....They are still tinned up ... Why? There are lots of good people down South struggling to come to terms with losing their homes which is very frightning ... but they have to know that in Bradford we have our own waiting lists for housing/ overcrowded schools, an overworked NHS service,and no homes to offer them......that's the reality... didn't someone say 'We Are All In This Together'

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Outraged English Subject says...
1:43pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Denied

Executive

South

Especially

Result

Val

Entirely

Demand

Report this post »

Prisoner Cell Block A says...
2:09pm Tue 19 Feb 13

You stealing my format Sir?

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bradfordian says...
3:53pm Tue 19 Feb 13

My granddaughter was offered a job in London which she accepted. She rents a room in a house for six hundred pounds a month. Property to let is not cheap in London. Jobs need to be created instead of blaming benefit claimants for every problem this country has. Some peoples comments come across as if they know everyone on benefits. Very judgemental. Let him without sin cast the first stone comes to mind.

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Huneybunch says...
4:52pm Tue 19 Feb 13

I lived in an area where we had the london over spill in the early seventies and all we got were convicts, not all but most of them, they were put on a housing estate that was built just for them and the police were never away from the area. We have enough problems of our own without adding to them.

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WayneRouke says...
5:52pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Camden
Ulitarian
Neighbourhood
Transfer
Scheme

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lanzaman says...
6:48pm Tue 19 Feb 13

hijaking this page as can't comment on vehicles stopped in Manningham.. 16 out of 60 were committing an offense, that's 25%!!!!! Best thing I've read for a long time, more of th same please

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ANY WHERE BUT HERE says...
7:02pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Well done the Labour Party. Give it four months, and well have all the fire'fighters in London please!

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Bradford Londoner says...
7:33pm Tue 19 Feb 13

I've lived and worked in Bradford for many years now and in London before that. I have experienced the strain on resources and associated issues related to crime, poverty, healthcare, housing etc in both areas. The way I see it, this current divisive Government is achieving precisely what it has set out to do - spark a row between North and South so that the wider issues around social displacement are overlooked.

This is essentially about displacing poorer families, whether or not they are 'problem' families, from affluent areas into poorer areas. By moving the so called 'problem' elsewhere, the greedy privileged few can buy up the desirable properties that these poorer families cannot afford to occupy in these richer areas, then rent them back to richer families/individuals
.

The landlords get richer, the privileged few feel safer (lucky them!) and are living closer to their well paying jobs. Meanwhile the less wealthy areas are subjected to even greater strain, become less desirable for businesses to locate to and the poverty gap increases. A true North South divide that helps a few and worsens things for everyone else. True Tory values!

It sickens me that the key issues of fairness, respect and opportunity for all are lost in arguments about where else the problem should be pushed to. It's the Government's selfish policies and greedy landlords that are the problem. Let's do away with them before we start attacking one another!

(This comment is not meant as a criticism of anyone's views on here, they're just my own observations).

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Bradford Londoner says...
7:38pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Incidentally, this is not a unique strategy. Poorer families in London have been shipped out to less wealthy parts of London and Essex in the past too, so that room can be made for the wealthy few. I used to live in one of these 'overflow' areas.

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Steve30d says...
8:29pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Given than Camden Council has managed to offer a minmum council tax charge of 8.5% compared to Brafords 15% of their liability
it might well have had issues forcing people to move. Camden is at least under the cap Pickles set !
Also having had a poke around Camden Council's page it seems like they're actually bothered implementing a "Disabled band reduction scheme" as per what the govement required- Lot in charge here seem to have forgetten that bit- so expect more expense due to council incompotence when the legality of their "fair and applied to all of working age" implementation of council tax" gets challenged in courts- they could end up being found guilty of disabled discrimination.

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ANY WHERE BUT HERE says...
9:22pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Bradford Londoner wrote:
I've lived and worked in Bradford for many years now and in London before that. I have experienced the strain on resources and associated issues related to crime, poverty, healthcare, housing etc in both areas. The way I see it, this current divisive Government is achieving precisely what it has set out to do - spark a row between North and South so that the wider issues around social displacement are overlooked.

This is essentially about displacing poorer families, whether or not they are 'problem' families, from affluent areas into poorer areas. By moving the so called 'problem' elsewhere, the greedy privileged few can buy up the desirable properties that these poorer families cannot afford to occupy in these richer areas, then rent them back to richer families/individuals

.

The landlords get richer, the privileged few feel safer (lucky them!) and are living closer to their well paying jobs. Meanwhile the less wealthy areas are subjected to even greater strain, become less desirable for businesses to locate to and the poverty gap increases. A true North South divide that helps a few and worsens things for everyone else. True Tory values!

It sickens me that the key issues of fairness, respect and opportunity for all are lost in arguments about where else the problem should be pushed to. It's the Government's selfish policies and greedy landlords that are the problem. Let's do away with them before we start attacking one another!

(This comment is not meant as a criticism of anyone's views on here, they're just my own observations).
Very true! Our country of the English has been sold down the river, It will take 20 years to sort the mess by previous government. If we carry on voting for lib,lab,con we are doomed by there short term solutions to cheap labour. This country is over bloated by people. If we need people to work in the NHS then we pay the indigenous to do it, All taxes go into individual corporations! That is how the people at the top run'it like a business. So the only salvation is somthing different to the norm. ( It's anybody's choice to be English.) We pay a very lucrative rate of tax.Why can't they pay the same in wages?

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TirNaNog says...
2:51pm Sat 23 Feb 13

A simple rent-cap on London properties would stop it. The greedy landlords will have to tighten their belts like the rest of us. Otherwise I'd recommend the displaced residents adopt a scorched earth policy when leaving!

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bradfordian says...
3:46pm Sun 24 Feb 13

what a comment! Let people live in containers? It may come as no surprise to the people who hate the poor, Canaca does make the poor in containers. The poor are not to blame for this recession the bankers are? Do I hear you shouting against the bankers?? NO. Why not. Is it only the poor who are targets for negative comments?

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onefaith says...
10:30pm Sun 24 Feb 13

no room.......no room...ur tellin me theres no room.....god im from this town born n bread n even i cant get a flat....look at allerton n places like that...boarded up houses nyet they letting developers build new ones......stop selling off land to line ur own pockets n put it to good use....maybe you shud go back to the old way of housing......u come from the town n have family u get priority....not giving in to all the foreign ppl comin over here n ruining our town

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