London Population Rise Revealed

The number of people who live in London – and their consequent need for housing – has been revealed with the publication of the 2021 Census data.

In the decade between 2011 and 2021, the population of the capital rose by 7.7 per cent to reach 8.8 million. This was by not the highest regional increase, with the South West up by 7.8 per cent and the East of England rising by 8.3 per cent, but it continues a long-term upward trend in London’s population that has continued since the 1980s.

However, within the capital there were significant variations. Tower Hamlets saw a 22.1 per cent rise in its population while Barking and Dagenham was up by 17.7 per cent, whereas Kensington and Chelsea witnessed a 9.6 per cent fall in population and Westminster was down 6.9 per cent. A third borough, Camden, was also down, by 4.6 per cent.

Overall, however, London remains a very densely populated city, with falls in west central areas being compensated for by large increases in the eastern and western suburbs.

Heating this vast metropolis is a major challenge not just because of the current energy crisis linked to the Ukraine war. The environmental impact of heat escaping from buildings can cause phenomena like the urban heat effect and contribute to overall global warming.

For this reason, using underfloor heating as an efficient and effective means of warming a building, be it residential or commercial, can play an important role in bolstering the capital’s energy efficiency.

There is a significant opportunity to achieve this in areas with fast-growing populations, as these are often the result of major housing projects, so incorporating underfloor heating into them can have a significant impact.

For example, while this is the second successive census in which Tower Hamlets has seen over 20 per cent population growth, the fact Barking and Dagenham was second this time owes much to the 10,000 new homes at Barking Riverside, on the former Barking Power Station site.

If you need quick drying screed in London, contact us today