The first batch of modular homes designed as accommodation for homeless Londoners has been assembled on a test site in Tower Hamlets.

The prototype units belong to PLACE (the Pan-London Accommodation Collaborative Enterprise), a not-for-profit company established by London boroughs with a mission to provide high-quality temporary accommodation for homeless families.

Cllr Darren Rodwell, London Councils' executive member for housing and planning, said: “In the face of a worsening housing crisis, this project represents boroughs thinking differently and working together to deliver cutting-edge new modular homes across the capital for use as temporary accommodation. PLACE demonstrates our determination to collaborate, innovate, and improve accommodation options for homeless families.”  

London Councils’ grants scheme supports work to tackle poverty and contributes to reducing child poverty in London by raising family income and skills through employment.

Groups from across the capital will be joining forces to highlight the issue, and some of the innovative work being done by national and local government, the Mayor, employers and local communities tackle poverty, during London Challenge Poverty Week (12-18 Oct)  

Key partners in London are working together to respond to COVID-19 and are committed to keeping the city safe to prevent the need for local intervention. Public Health England London has sent a briefing to businesses this week with advice, including changes to the government guidance which can be found here.

Business can also refer to the working safely during coronavirus guidance which contains practical steps they can take.

To mark Black History Month, Fast-Track Cities London and One Voice Network have joined forces in asking organisations working for and with Black people living with HIV to share their work, their stories and their thoughts on how London can work together to get to zero HIV in Black communities.

Since 2015, the borough-funded London HIV Prevention Programme's Do It London campaign has been promoting HIV testing and combination prevention in the capital.

In 2016 London became only the third city in the world (after Amsterdam and Melbourne) to achieve the UN's 90:90:90 targets, with 90 per cent of people living with HIV infection diagnosed, 97 per cent of people diagnosed receiving treatment, and 97 per cent of people receiving treatment being virally suppressed

London signed up to be a Fast Track city 2018 as the starting point on a trajectory towards getting to zero new HIV infections and zero AIDS-related deaths.

On Sunday Cllr Ravi Govindia, leader of LB Wandsworth featured in the introduction to Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary of State Robert Jenrick's speech to the Conservative Party Conference.

Cllr Govindia outlined Wandsworth's work in supporting homeless Londoners during the coronavirus pandemic.