strength
Build on the progress at Salisbury Square
The police headquarters structure has reached its topping-out milestone.
Proposed response: Coordinate the building fit-out with operational readiness.
What could help →Local places / Counties and council areas / City of London
Council funding: City of London · all councils
City of London, in numbers
Issues and SWOT
City of London council area. Every figure carries its own date.
Strengths to build on. Pressures to address. Choices to make.
These assessments connect evidence with proposed responses. They are not ratings of council performance.
Strengths
strength
Bring support closer to people in poor health
2.7% of people reported bad or very bad health in City of London council area (21 March 2021). Across England, the figure was 5.2%. People reporting bad or very bad health ranged from 0% in Bishopsgate and Tower to 7.3% in Portsoken — a gap of 7.3 percentage points.
This is how residents described their health in the census. It can reveal differences between neighbourhoods, but does not diagnose illness or measure current waiting times. Age profiles differ between places, so these shares do not measure service quality.
What could help →strength
Connect local skills to local opportunities
74.2% of people aged 16 or over had a degree or equivalent (21 March 2021) in City of London council area. Across England, the figure was 33.9%. People aged 16+ with no qualifications ranged from 1.9% in Castle Baynard to 20.6% in Portsoken — a gap of 18.7 percentage points.
Qualifications show one part of the skills available locally. They do not show whether people have secure jobs or work that uses those skills.
What could help →Weaknesses
weakness
Remove the barriers at selected street crossings
The raised-crossing programme addresses changes in pavement height and obstructions.
Proposed response: Prioritise access problems identified by disabled people and other pedestrians.
What could help →weakness
Make room for homes people can afford
The average home price is £711,000 (July 2026) in City of London council area. This is about £417,000 higher than the England average for the same month. Homes rented privately ranged from 22% in Portsoken to 84.2% in Bishopsgate — a gap of 62.2 percentage points.
Housing costs matter most alongside earnings and the number of affordable homes available. A local average cannot tell us whether a particular household can afford its home.
What could help →Opportunities
opportunity
Make Barbican renewal accessible through the disruption
Barbican Renewal has planning and listed-building consent for access improvements and repairs, with a future pause in most activities planned.
Proposed response: Explain the transition for visitors and test the renewed access as part of delivery.
What could help →opportunity
Check that crossing improvements remove real barriers
The programme addresses the height difference and obstruction at selected street crossings.
Proposed response: Test the completed routes with users who face access barriers.
What could help →opportunity
Plan homes and care around an older population
14.1% of people in City of London council area were aged 65 or over (21 March 2021). People aged 65 or over ranged from 1.6% in Tower to 23.5% in Aldersgate — a gap of 21.9 percentage points.
Age alone does not mean poor health or a need for care. Accessible homes, reliable transport and support close to home matter as people get older.
What could help →opportunity
Target safety work where problems repeat
Mapped police records are available for neighbourhoods in City of London council area.
Published locations are approximate and some crimes are not mapped. Counts show recorded incidents, not the chance of an individual becoming a victim.
What could help →opportunity
Turn published plans into visible progress
3 named local projects or plans have official evidence in this collection.
A published plan makes responsibilities and intentions easier to inspect. It does not prove that funding is secured or that promised benefits have arrived.
What could help →opportunity
Target support where disadvantages overlap
Households facing two or more measured disadvantages ranged from 4.1% in Queenhithe to 28.7% in Portsoken — a gap of 24.5 percentage points.
These households met at least two census conditions covering education, employment, health and housing. This is not an income or poverty measure.
What could help →Threats
threat
Keep Barbican funding and access plans realistic
The first renewal phase needs additional fundraising and involves a planned pause in most activities.
Proposed response: Link each approved phase to secured funding and clear access information.
What could help →| Evidence and response | Who could lead | Related published plans |
|---|---|---|
| Make Barbican renewal accessible through the disruptionBarbican Renewal: Planning permission and listed-building consent approved. See the dated project evidence. | City of London Corporation and Barbican Centre | |
| Check that crossing improvements remove real barriersRaised crossings across the Square Mile: Delivery planned from October 2026; completion not confirmed. Evidence dated 2026-10-05. | City of London Corporation | |
| Build on the progress at Salisbury SquareJanuary 2026 topping out; opening is still a future milestone. | City Corporation and City of London Police | |
| Remove the barriers at selected street crossingsEight junctions listed for work from October 2026, not confirmed complete. | City Corporation highways team | |
| Keep Barbican funding and access plans realistic£231 million phase-one requirement; £191 million City commitment in the reviewed source. | City Corporation and Barbican Centre | |
| Make room for homes people can affordThe average home price is £711,000 (July 2026) in City of London council area. Homes rented privately ranged from 22% in Portsoken to 84.2% in Bishopsgate — a gap of 62.2 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 10 of 25 current wards have comparable figures. | The housing and planning authorities, housing associations and developers | No reviewed project is linked yet. This remains a proposal, with funding and delivery to establish. |
| Plan homes and care around an older population14.1% aged 65 or over; 21 March 2021. People aged 65 or over ranged from 1.6% in Tower to 23.5% in Aldersgate — a gap of 21.9 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 10 of 25 current wards have comparable figures. | Adult social care, local health services, housing providers and transport authorities | No reviewed project is linked yet. This remains a proposal, with funding and delivery to establish. |
| Bring support closer to people in poor health2.7% reporting bad or very bad health; 21 March 2021. People reporting bad or very bad health ranged from 0% in Bishopsgate and Tower to 7.3% in Portsoken — a gap of 7.3 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 10 of 25 current wards have comparable figures. | Local health services, public health teams, employers and community organisations | No reviewed project is linked yet. This remains a proposal, with funding and delivery to establish. |
| Connect local skills to local opportunities74.2% with a degree or equivalent; 21 March 2021. People aged 16+ with no qualifications ranged from 1.9% in Castle Baynard to 20.6% in Portsoken — a gap of 18.7 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 10 of 25 current wards have comparable figures. | Employers, colleges, universities and the relevant skills authority | No reviewed project is linked yet. This remains a proposal, with funding and delivery to establish. |
| Target safety work where problems repeatUse the dated, complete periods shown in Crime and safety; keep anti-social behaviour separate. | The local police force, council community safety team and relevant services | |
| Target support where disadvantages overlapHouseholds facing two or more measured disadvantages ranged from 4.1% in Queenhithe to 28.7% in Portsoken — a gap of 24.5 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 10 of 25 wards. | The council's housing, public health and employment teams, with local services |