Given the overwhelming dominance of London within the national economy, it is often easy to forget that parts of the capital rank amongst the most deprived in the UK. Church Street ward, within the City of Westminster, is just one of those places. With a population of around 16,000 within less than a square mile, it is amongst the most densely populated areas in the country.

When Westminster City Council undertook a review of its housing provision in the early 2010s, it highlighted the Church Street housing estate as one of those in most urgent need of investment. Not only were there long waiting lists for council housing, but the wider ward also faced a wide range of economic and social challenges.

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