Katie Mansfield in the Liberal Democrat PPC for Hampstead and Highgate

THE Camden New Journal is right to highlight the link between the shortage of genuinely affordable, family-sized homes and the loss of families from our community.

But we also need to look at the wider cost of raising children in London, and what it will take to make family life affordable again. The fact that La Sainte Union in Hampstead and Highgate, alongside three primary schools in the south of the borough, are facing closure brings these issues into sharp focus.

Across London, the number of children aged 0-9 fell by almost 100,000 between 2013 and 2023, a trend that has hit Inner London particularly hard. Last year, this paper highlighted that school rolls fell by 2,250 pupils between 2019 and 2024, resulting in a £4.5million annual reduction in school funding. These trends meant the need to reduce school places was foreseeable.

Yet Camden Council’s lack of planning has left schools scrambling to adapt to a rushed plan, creating real uncertainty for families and staff. Schools need time to plan for change, not decisions made under pressure.

As the CNJ has argued, regeneration must deliver homes that families can afford, with enough space to grow. But finding a suitable home is only the beginning. Even families who manage to buy or rent somewhere appropriate face the challenge of paying for it while raising children and covering everyday costs. A large mortgage or high rent can leave little room for anything else.

Add childcare, commuting, food, energy and other household bills, and the pressure quickly mounts. For many parents, it is the combined cost that makes staying in London feel impossible.

The Prime Minister’s focus on the North risks overlooking the pressures facing families in London. High property values create the impression that everyone here is wealthy, but expensive homes do not mean high disposable income. For many families, earnings are swallowed up by housing, childcare and everyday bills. Some residents have seen their value rise without having more money available each month, while others are managing substantial mortgages alongside the costs of bringing up children. Many are already stretched.

That is why I oppose the government’s proposed “mansion tax” which can add to the burden on ordinary families living in London homes. Making it more expensive for people to stay in their homes will not solve London’s affordability crisis. Childcare is another pressure parents raise repeatedly.

The cost can be enormous, particularly for families with more than one young child. Support must reflect London’s costs, so that having children does not mean facing an impossible choice between working, paying the bills and staying in the area.

When families leave, the consequences reach beyond individual households. Schools close. High streets lose customers. Community groups lose volunteers.

The mix of generations and connections that makes Hampstead and Highgate special begins to fade. Liberal Democrats believe we need a joined-up approach: genuinely affordable homes with enough space for families, childcare that parents can afford, and investment in the schools, services and infrastructure that make family life possible. We need to consider the real cost of raising children, not just the number of homes being built.

The proposed closure of La Sainte Union and other local schools is not the root of the problem. It is one consequence of a city in which too many families are finding it harder to afford to stay. If we want thriving schools and vibrant communities, we must make it possible for families to put down roots and build their futures here.

London should be a place where ordinary families can afford not just a home, but a life.

– Katie Mansfield is the Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for Hampstead and Highgate