Council rent proposals include a 4.5% rise
Published Thursday 5 November 2026
Compare proposed housing costs, see youth-funding decisions and apply for neighbourhood grants before Sunday’s extended deadline.
Top Updates
Council rent proposals include 4.5% rise
Southwark is proposing a general 4.5% council rent rise from 5 April 2027, with some social-rent tenants paying up to £1 extra a week to bring rents closer to government-set targets. The proposals are not final charges.
Our comparison with this year’s approved charges shows a smaller increase for communal services: tenants receiving cleaning, grounds maintenance, lighting and door entry would pay £15.45 weekly, up 30p, compared with last year’s £1.05 rise. These charges are separate from rent and apply only where tenants receive the services.
Six-month youth funding extension approved for farm and Ballers
Southwark has approved six more months of youth funding: £15,000 for Surrey Docks Farm and £13,750 for Ballers Academy’s Rotherhithe and Surrey Docks work, from April to September 2027. This advances the proposal we reported on 22 October, although councillors can challenge the decision until today, 5 November.
Comparing the awards with the preceding annual grants, each is exactly half a year’s allocation. Funding stays at the same cash rate while the programme is redesigned; that does not guarantee unchanged sessions or staffing.
Dates For Your Diary
Tours from Wednesday 11 November 2026 to Wednesday 13 January 2027
Prospective-family tours at Albion Primary School
Families considering nursery, reception or an in-year school move can visit Albion Primary School’s open days on Albion Street, Rotherhithe, SE16 7JD. The next tour will take place on Wednesday 11 November at 2pm, with a maximum of 20 visitors per tour. Booking links are on the school’s open-days page.
Further tours will run on Friday 27 November and Tuesday 8 December 2026 at 9.15am, Friday 8 January 2027 at 9.15am and Wednesday 13 January 2027 at 2pm.
Thursday 19 November · 4.30–7pm · Booking required
St Michael’s sixth-form open evening for external students
Year 11 students considering a move to St Michael’s Catholic College can meet subject teachers and take an escorted tour at its sixth-form open evening on Llewellyn Street, SE16 4UN. There will be a presentation at 5.30pm. Booking is required, and students from outside the school must attend with a parent or carer, with no more than four students per adult.
What's On
Thursday 5 November
Family after-school club at the Lewington Centre, 3.30–5pm · Free. Families with children aged 0–11 can enjoy play, crafts and games together at ParentSkills2Go’s club on Eugenia Road, Rotherhithe. The Tuesday–Thursday series runs from 22 September to 17 December 2026. For details and registration, call 07498 308655.
Friday 6 November
Family Allotment Club at Southwark Park Galleries, 6 and 13 November · 10am–noon · Free. Families with children aged 0–5 can garden and make arts and crafts at Family Allotment Club in Lake Gallery Garden, 1 Park Approach. The Friday series runs from 22 May to 13 November 2026. No booking is needed; children must be accompanied by an adult.
Meet Isy the Mole family trail at the Brunel Museum, 10.30am–3.30pm · Last entry 3pm · Under-16s free; SE16/SE8 £2.50; adults £10, including Gift Aid donation. Children can follow a free activity sheet to discover Thames Tunnel objects and stories on the Meet Isy the Mole trail at Railway Avenue, Rotherhithe. Launched for October half-term 2026, it is included with museum admission and continues during opening hours.
Saturday 7 November
Repair Café at the Old Mortuary, 10am–1pm · Free · Drop-in. Volunteers will help mend household items, electronics, bicycles and clothes at Time & Talents’ Repair Café in Rotherhithe, SE16 4JE. No booking is needed; bring your item and arrive early, as help is first-come, first-served.
Lantern-making workshop at The Blue Market, Bermondsey, Noon–3pm · Free. Make a willow-and-tissue lantern in a small team for the 20 November parade. Materials and lights will be supplied; lanterns need drying time before going home. Book through the festival programme, which also lists a 14 November workshop.
Roadworks and Transport
Windrush closures on Friday night and Sunday
No Windrush line trains will run between Surrey Quays and Clapham Junction all day on Sunday 8 November. A separate closure will affect late Friday journeys: trains will not run between New Cross Gate and Crystal Palace or West Croydon after 11.30pm on Friday 6 November. Both closures appear in TfL’s planned-closures calendar.