A new report from the Centre for London has highlighted growing concerns about the changing shape of London’s population, warning that rising housing costs, falling birth rates and increasing inequality are reshaping where – and whether – families can live in the capital.

The report, The Hollowing Out of London, comes shortly after the London Assembly report A London for Every Child which made a range of recommendations aimed at stemming the flow of families out of central London. 

Centre for London researchers found that inner London has seen significant declines in the number of families with children over the past decade, driven by housing affordability pressures, childcare costs and migration out of the capital.

The report identifies a growing divide between inner and outer London. While inner boroughs including Westminster, Southwark, Hackney and Camden are seeing falling school rolls and school closures, several outer London boroughs are facing increasing pressure as more families move outward.

Boroughs including Havering, Barking and Dagenham and Waltham Forest are highlighted as areas experiencing growing numbers of families alongside rising demand for school places, maternity services and local infrastructure. Together, the findings suggest that London’s “centre of gravity” for family life may increasingly be shifting eastwards and outwards as families search for larger homes, greener spaces and more affordable neighbourhoods.

The report also points to wider impacts on public services and community life. Nearly 100,000 children are now living in temporary accommodation in London, with many families placed outside their home boroughs because of housing shortages and rising costs.

Alongside housing and economic pressures, researchers point to the importance of neighbourhood design and access to outdoor space in shaping where families choose to live. Outer London’s larger homes, greener spaces and more “family-friendly” environments were identified as key factors attracting families away from central areas.

While the report focuses primarily on housing, demographics and public services the findings also raise wider questions about what kind of city London wants to be. As families with children are pushed further to the margins, the report suggests there are implications not only for housing and public services, but for the long-term social fabric, stability and vibrancy of neighbourhoods across the capital.

Read the full report on Centre for London’s website.