London-based developer U+I is working up plans to build thousands of so-called micro flats in London in order to cater for workers who want to live in London but struggle to rent.
The company, which has identified sites it says are suitable for development across the city, said it was in discussions with a number of inner London boroughs to build the homes, the smallest of which has just 19 sq m of floor space far less than the 37 sq m minimum which is the recommended standard from the Greater London Authority.
A report by the think-tank Development Economics suggests that building smaller flats on just five example sites could bring an additional £200m of income and more than 1,000 new jobs to central London by allowing young workers to live in the heart of the city.