London Councils congratulates new Prime Minister
London Councils sent its warm congratulations to Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP on becoming Britain’s 59th Prime Minister on Monday 20 July.
Cllr Stephen Cowan, Chair of London Councils, said:
“As our new Prime Minister has articulated so clearly, Britain faces some of its biggest challenges in the post-war period. We offer our warm congratulations to Andy Burnham on becoming our country’s Prime Minister. London Councils stands united in our readiness to work with the national government as we strive to rise to the challenges of this age.
“London is famously the UK’s economic growth engine. Yet in contrast, it has long suffered some of the highest poverty rates in north-west Europe and the capital’s productivity growth has stalled. Our challenge now is to recharge the capital and lift up the country."
London secures first devolved retrofit funding to improve thousands of homes
London has secured more than £58m in new devolved funding to improve the energy efficiency of up to 5,000 homes across the capital, helping residents in some of London’s lowest-income households save up to £500 a year on their energy bills.
The new Home Energy Saving Fund will be delivered through Warmer Homes London, the joint initiative launched by London Councils and the Mayor of London to accelerate retrofit across the capital.
The funding forms London’s share of the government’s £295m investment in social housing retrofit, announced as part of its landmark £15bn Warm Homes Plan. Crucially, this is the first time retrofit funding has been devolved to London, giving the capital greater control over how investment is targeted to local priorities such as tackling fuel poverty and reducing damp and mould.
Cllr Stephen Cowan, Chair of London Councils, said:
"Securing this devolved funding is a major achievement for London and demonstrates the value of a partnership-led approach to improving homes across the capital. Through Warmer Homes London, London Councils and the Mayor have created the infrastructure needed to deliver retrofit at scale and ensure investment reaches residents who will benefit most."
"This funding will help thousands more Londoners live in warmer, healthier and more affordable homes. It also shows how Warmer Homes London is bringing together boroughs, housing providers and City Hall to turn national investment into real improvements for local communities, while supporting jobs and skills across the capital."
Funding awarded to key London women's refuge under Pan-London Grants Programme 2026-30
Nearly £4m in funding has been awarded to a key London women's refuge as part of the Pan-London Grants Programme (PLGP) for 2026-30.
The Ascent Specialist Refuge Network, led by Ashiana Network in partnership with three other charities, has received £3.9m in funding to provide specialist refuge bedspaces for survivors of domestic and sexual abuse and exploitation who have been underserved by, or excluded from, other safe housing options. This includes dedicated bedspaces in safehouses across London for women with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF), those with problematic substance use, and Middle Eastern and North African women.
The scheme has been funded under the PLGP's priority of Tackling Domestic and Sexual Abuse. The project is expected to support around 300 women from all London boroughs to access safe accommodation. Safe housing and wrap-around support will give women access to their rights, specialist intervention, informed choices, healing, recovery, and will help to build resilience.
Funding has also been awarded to five other projects relating to Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) across London, as well as six projects combatting homelessness in the capital. We will spotlight other schemes sponsored by the PLGP in future editions of Key Issues.
See here for more information on the PLGP and the Ascent Specialist Refuge Network.
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