Almost 200 homeless households in Bromley have been moved more than 20 miles away to Medway in Kent.

Following on from questions asked at a recent Bromley Council meeting, it has been revealed that 189 households have been given accommodation in Medway towns since 2017.

Last year, Bromley Council rehoused 154 households in the riverside towns, with another 35 moving the same way this year so far.

Councillor Peter Morgan, executive councillor for renewal, recreation and housing said the council was seeking accommodation across Bromley and the south east.

He said: “We have provided accommodation for a relatively small proportion of homeless people outside the borough for some years now, in areas relatively near the borough, including in Kent.

“This practice, in common with many other councils, has meant that more people are prevented from being homeless as quickly as possible.

“Our aim is to see homeless people moving into good quality homes on a longer term basis and as part of this, we are seeing families keen to take up this accommodation on a more settled basis.

“Where a family with work in the borough, or children in school at a critical period, they are afforded priority to be housed in the borough.

“It is our policy to seek housing within the borough or very nearby for those people who already have employment in the borough or have children attending Bromley schools at a critical period.”

Angela Wilkins,  the leader of Bromley Labour, said there were no easy solutions to London’s housing crisis.

Cllr Wilkins said: “Having a secure and high quality home is fundamental to everyone’s health and wellbeing, and we all know London is facing a massive housing crisis, so there are no easy answers.

“I am sure that for some families, a home in Medway is like gold dust. For others however, it means two or three-hour commutes to get to work or to get children to school, and it means losing contact with your neighbours and friends. And most temporary accommodation is for three or four years before a permanent home can be secured.”

The number of homelessness applications has dropped in the last two years, although the number of temporary accommodation placements has risen.

The council agreed a new homelessness strategy earlier this year to increase the access and supply of housing and to prevent homelessness earlier, although Cllr Wilkins said the opposition would be arguing for more affordable homes in the borough.

This comes as City Hall announced a new scheme to build 10,000 council houses across the capital.