‘We chose Hornchurch over Islington for cheaper living’

Gopika and her family say they were able to get 30% more space for their money in Hornchurch

People are leaving inner London in favour of a more affordable lifestyle, reduced housing costs, less crime and more green space in the outer suburbs.

While there is nothing new about people leaving the capital they are, in the main, replaced by newcomers - in July 2023, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) estimated that London's population was 8.9 million, an increase of 76,300 compared to the previous year.

Mother-of-one Gopika and her partner chose to stay in the capital, but opted for a cheaper peripheral borough, moving to Hornchurch in the London Borough of Havering after 10 years living in Islington.

She said: "Even compared to Walthamstow, we have 30% more space for the same money."

Gopika left her flat in London for more space in Hornchurch

During the pandemic they realised they valued more outdoor space, which was not affordable in inner London.

"We chose Hornchurch because it's still well connected and suburban," she said.

"Everything we saw in zones 1 to 3 within budget wasn't much more than a flat and we wanted more space for children.

"It has been a bit of change in lifestyle, I had to learn to drive, and childcare is very expensive and competitive, we had to sign up when I was just a few weeks pregnant."

She added: "I was frustrated and I am quite sad about not living in central London, the variety of different places that you have there and the culture is a bit more open minded, I have found.

"We have also noticed a huge strain on hospital services living here, comparatively, with things like A&E waits and GPs."

Caron Harrison felt her pension would not cover her housing costs in Forest Gate, Newham

Retired teacher Caron Harrison lived in Forest Gate for 36 years, before choosing to leave because of costs.

She explained: "I moved to Norfolk because I realised that I would not be able to afford my London rent once I was drawing my pension.

"It was a really difficult decision as all my friends lived locally and I do miss them. I try to get back once a month to see them."

Helen lived with her family of three in an ex-council flat in Maryland, Stratford, and moved away three years ago, leaving for the same reasons.

She said: "We were leaseholders, and we needed somewhere bigger to live, children need their own bedroom, but we just can't afford it and I don't qualify for social help.

"A four-bedroom flat, which is probably worth £1m. I see others on social housing moved within the borough according to their needs, but for a working family this is not possible, we worked and bought a flat as a right thing to do.

"It hurts to see we get punished for this - where is the fairness in this system?”

This article was updated on 2 September 2024 to clarify some statistics quoted in the original story.