London’s housing crisis is one of the most acute challenges facing residents in Brent.

Prices continue to rise, locking many young people, including me, out of affordable housing. Building new homes has got to be part of the solution.

But building homes isn’t the start and end of it. You have to have the infrastructure to go along with development and regeneration. Across Alperton, we have seen a huge increase in the number of new tower blocks, but little investment in the things our community needs.

Our GPs and dentists are already over-stretched, community leisure facilities are few and far between, and schools will struggle to cope with the growing population.

Development cannot just be for those lucky enough to be able to afford the new homes being built; it should come with community benefits, not community costs.

Residents across Brent are sick and tired of new tower blocks being erected, with no regard for how existing residents can live happy, fulfilled lives. Now, more than ever, we are having to rethink how and where we live. If Covid has taught us anything, it is that living in high density, with little outside green space, is a recipe for disaster.

More social homes must be part of the way we build back better. The council, mayor of London and government should be working together to release funding for local authorities to build the homes we need, without profits lining the pockets of developers.

The needs of local residents must come first.