Council Fears Impact of Immigration on Housing

The leader of Westminster City Council has told MPs an anticipated ‘influx’ of Romanian and Bulgarian migrants will have an ‘enormous’ impact on its social housing and other services.  Philippa Roe, Conservative leader of the authority, warned that if the council does not plan for the arrival of more migrants next year it will be in ‘serious difficulties’.  Giving evidence at a meeting of the Public Administration Select Committee on migration, Ms Roe said the local authority had not made estimates of the number of Romanian and Bulgarian migrants who might arrive in Westminster when work restrictions end next year.  However she said the council had already seen ‘quite an impact’ in relation to migration from Romania, suggesting there had been low-level crime and begging issues around Marble Arch. Read more on Inside Housing.