London’s petrification In the Financial Times, Edwin Heathcote writes about the role of social housing in supporting better, more diverse cities. In response to Brandon Lewis’ call last week for the demolition of London’s council estates in pursuit of denser mixed developments to address the housing crisis, Heathcote explores the history of social housing in London – and notes that the city’s high-end properties are not under a similar threat in the name of densification. “The plan to rid London of its central social housing is short-sighted,” Heathcote argues. “It would rob the streetscapes of the bustle of everyday life and accelerate a slide into an empty vehicle for investment — the difference between a city that has the flexibility to adapt and absorb change, and one that stagnates as a luxury enclave.”