Ghost town: City of London offices are STILL lying empty as Covid cases start to creep higher amid plans to use pandemic to 'solve the housing crisis'

Hundreds of empty offices in central London look set to be used in plans for a post-pandemic shake up that could see vacant units transformed into housing in a bid to revive the once-bustling area.

As Covid cases and hospitalisations continue to rise, both nationally and in the capital, hundreds of buildings in the historic City of London remain unused and largely devoid of life.

But clear desks, empty rooms and lifeless office blocks could be given a breath of fresh air after more than 18 months of stagnation, as plans were announced to provide 1,500 new homes by the end of the decade in the City earlier this year.

Leaders within the City of London Corporation had pointed to the potential repurposing of idle buildings in the Capital to kickstart a five-year strategy to build new homes and flats on long-term and affordable leases. 

Those suggestions were backed by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who has previously pointed to the pandemic's potential to solve the capital's housing crisis - with now vacant offices being converted into affordable housing. 

Speaking to The Mirror, Mr Khan explained such a move could be the answer to London's rapidly rising need for housing.

But, the Labour Mayor did urge caution over plans to transform empty offices into permanent residential use.

As Covid cases and hospitalisations continue to rise, both nationally and in the capital, hundreds of buildings in the historic City of London (pictured above) remain unused and largely devoid of life

Those clear desks, empty rooms and lifeless office blocks could be given a breath of fresh air after more than 18 months of stagnation

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has previously pointed to the pandemic's potential to 'solve' the capital's housing crisis - with now vacant offices being converted into affordable housing

He said: 'We shouldn't base permanent change on temporary behaviour.

'The last 16 months have left people thinking about their work-life balance.

'Many Londoners who worked in hospitality and culture returned to mum and dad in Yorkshire or Lancashire or Manchester or Newcastle. Some of them will return when the jobs come back.' 

Hundreds of shops, small business premises and office blocks in once vibrant parts of central London now remain empty and resemble a post-pandemic ghost town.

Such unused space could prove costly for the companies who lease them, as more than 70 per cent of all office rent payments paid by businesses in the capital are being spent on empty desks. 

Leaders said it was vital to 'adapt to post-pandemic economic and social trends' to avoid being left behind, with figures released by the London Assembly last year showing nearly half of Londoners who were already planning a move intending this to be out of the capital.  

London's financial district supported 125,000 houses and flats in the 19th century, but this shrank to 7,850 today due to developments in public transport that allowed commuters to travel in from further afield. 

Leaders said it was vital to 'adapt to post-pandemic economic and social trends' amid potential plans to turn disused office blocks into housing

Such unused space could prove costly for the companies who lease them, as more than 70 per cent of all office rent payments paid by businesses in the capital are being spent on empty desks

However, as online shopping increasingly leaves Britain's once-bustling high streets shadows of their former selves, officials in London and elsewhere are increasingly looking to housing to fill the vacuum left by empty units. 

Catherine McGuinness, Policy Chair at the City of London Corporation, said: 'The Square Mile must evolve in order to provide an ecosystem that remains attractive to workers, visitors, learners and residents. 

'This will involve encouraging growth, fostering talent from all backgrounds, providing a vibrant leisure offer and offering outstanding environments.

'Inclusion, innovation and sustainability should be at the core of the future City. We remain confident that the Square Mile will return to its usual buzz and vibrancy by building on these pillars.'

Other plans include boosting digital infrastructure, with a 5G network planned across the Square Mile by the end of 2022, according to the FT. 

But analysis from the Local Government Association pointed to office blocks being prime targets for potentially substandard home conversions in a post-pandemic world.

The LGA also warned that 16,000 potential affordable homes could have been lost in England since 2016, if developers are able to convert disused buildings into homes without planning permission.