Paddington is one of the few high-density residential neighbourhoods of Central London.

It’s a business districts and in general a place where people from all walks of life can thrive well under the essence of community cohesion.

Among the glass buildings are the local working class community of the Paddington area.

Many of these residents have witnessed the accelerated growth of the economy as office spaces and modern housing projects expand day by day.

Though it is improving the area financially, the expansion of Paddington’s business hub is a problem slowly creeping up on the working class living around the neighbourhood.

From 1997 to 2016, the population in London and economy have grown at a rapid rate with jobs in the capital increasing to 1.6m (40%) while population size grew by 1.7m (25%).

In contrast from these two rapidly increasing factors, housing hasn’t progressed as much with only 470,000 homes built in a space of 20 years.

Solutions could be made at the outskirts of London with the amount of open space available to develop.

However, prioritisation to improve the economy has led to Central London becoming a melting pot for foreign investment, attracting other businesses in the process and leading to a huge influx in the middle and high class.

As a result of the influx, many council houses in the area are being demolished and the original residents relocated to poorer conditions.

Not only has business expansion destroyed homes, it has caused more disparity within Paddington as anti-social behaviour is the highest recorded crime at 2,103 cases in autumn.

Old council blocks are planning to be replaced either by high-rise offices or new private apartments.

None of the local residents will be able to buy, let alone rent these new flats.

In terms of affordable housing, only 5,790 affordable homes had been delivered in 2014/15 over a span of around 25 years.

The income of working class households are forcing families to move out of their areas and relocate to worse conditions.

As a result of this gentrification and the increasing prices of living in London, more neighbourhoods are at risk of being vacant as no one can afford to live in the area.

A prime example of this is Stratford city in Newham.

It was originally one of the poorest areas of London with high levels of unemployment and a working class of the BAME demographic.

The 2012 Olympics initially promised these households that with the development of the Olympic Village in their area, all of the new buildings in the Village would be converted into affordable housing later.

Five years later and besides West Ham United’s investment in the London Stadium, the area remains vacant with expensive apartment.

As a result of the business expansion, sure, the area has cleaned up but the culture and sense of belonging brought from the original residents has been flushed out with its identity lost.

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