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London council housing department to feature in Channel 4 series
A London borough’s council housing department will be the focus of a new access-all-areas documentary series on Channel 4.
Council House Britain will follow Southwark Council’s staff as they seek to manage its 55,000-strong housing stock amid the intense demands and cost pressures on the sector.
It will also feature tenants living in the shadow of luxury flats and the Shard skyscraper.
Issues from hoarding to pest control and evictions are set to be covered.
The six-part series is produced by The Garden Productions – the same outfit behind 24 Hours in A&E.
Channel 4 billed the programme as “a timely and eye-opening insight into what’s involved in managing one of the biggest and busiest boroughs in the country”.
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Fozia Khan and Madonna Benjamin, commissioning editors at Channel 4, said: “With access to both council workers and their tenants, the series is bursting with characters and their stories.
“It provides a warm, uplifting and at times jaw-dropping glimpse into what it takes to find and keep a place to call home.”
Peter John, leader of Southwark Council, said: “It’s incredibly exciting that after two years of scoping and filming, we are about to share this documentary with the world.
“Council officers are often the unsung heroes of the public sector, but just as COVID-19 has revealed the important work our rubbish collectors and social care workers do, Council House Britain will show the country how passionate and committed our housing teams are.
“I’m grateful to The Garden and Channel 4 for shining a light on the challenges councils and residents are facing after years of austerity and celebrating the many wonderful and unique people who call Southwark home.”
Southwark is one of the country’s largest social landlords and has the biggest council housing stock in London.
Nearly 40% of the borough’s population live in homes managed by the council.
Only five new homes become available to let each week – while there are 10,000 households on the council’s waiting list.
