Housing

Premier League footballers unveil £400m London housing development

Rio Ferdinand, Bobby Zamora and Mark Noble have set up the Legacy Foundation to address a social housing problem in the capital

Photo credit: Jake Ratcliffe

Former England captain Rio Ferdinand has spoken about his desire to see genuinely affordable housing affordable built in London.

The former Manchester United defender has teamed up West Ham United captain Mark Noble and ex-Fulham striker Bobby Zamora to set up the Legacy Foundation to address the housing crisis and lack of affordable places to live. All three of the footballers grew up on council housing estates in east or south London.

Everything we do has to have a sporting and leisure facility, it has to have an education part to it

The Legacy Foundation has announced the beginning of building work on 1,300 homes just outside Luton, set for completion in 2017, and has also opened discussions with local authorities in Newham and Barking and Dagenham.

Its aim is to achieve 50 per cent social or affordable housing at each site it manages to build on, and also aims to make sure there are decent communities facilities in place at each project.

“Everything we do has to have a sporting and leisure facility, it has to have an education part to it, and we want to entice the local businesses to give the people in the communities opportunities as well,” said Ferdinand.

The first project sees 600 of the 1,300 homes built in Houghton Regis, near Luton, designated for social and affordable housing.

The £400 million development is happening in partnership with Central Bedfordshire Council and Aviva Investors. The council will set rents, with the income from tenants split between the council and investors.

“We want to provide high quality housing in the estates and areas that need it the most,” said Ferdinand.

“We’re all from estates and the kids of those estates needed people to look up to and be inspired by. We’re hoping to be part of that.”

Photo credit: Jake Ratcliffe

Support the Big Issue

For over 30 years, the Big Issue has been committed to ending poverty in the UK. In 2024, our work is needed more than ever. Find out how you can support the Big Issue today.
Vendor martin Hawes

Recommended for you

View all
Sadiq Khan pledge to build 40,000 new council homes in London hailed as 'big step forward'
Housing crisis

Sadiq Khan pledge to build 40,000 new council homes in London hailed as 'big step forward'

Most rough sleepers say they're treated unfairly by police, damning study reveals
rough sleeper appearing to be stamped on by police in BBC video
Homelessness

Most rough sleepers say they're treated unfairly by police, damning study reveals

Tory plan to criminalise rough sleepers will 'destroy homeless people's spirits', MPs warned
rough sleepers risk being criminalised by the Vagrancy Act
Homelessness

Tory plan to criminalise rough sleepers will 'destroy homeless people's spirits', MPs warned

Tories should cap service charge rises to stop 'collective scam' before next election, says Gavin Williamson
Housing

Tories should cap service charge rises to stop 'collective scam' before next election, says Gavin Williamson

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Here's when UK households to start receiving last cost of living payments
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Here's when UK households to start receiving last cost of living payments

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know