Newham, an East London borough, experienced a net loss of more than 16,000 residents to internal migration last year, making it the second-highest area in the country for such losses, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data. MyLondon visited Canning Town to ask residents why so many people are leaving.
Record numbers leave Newham in 2025
The ONS figures show that every major city in England and Wales lost more residents to other parts of the UK than it gained last year. While almost 34,000 people moved to Newham in 2025, almost 50,000 moved out, resulting in a net loss of more than 16,000. This ranks Newham second in the country, after Birmingham, for net loss in internal migration.
Dan Bates, a resident who moved from Greater London several years ago, pointed to the housing crisis as a primary driver. "There's a housing crisis here, I mean, people are moving out as they can't afford it here, look at all these new flats, do you think working class people can afford these?" he said. "I think it's more single people doing their thing now, it's just not affordable anymore. There are still communities in Newham, but most of these new flats and developments bring people who want to move to the area for a bit, then onto a better thing when it suits them, and there isn't much reason for them to be sticking around here."
Lack of amenities and community ties
Kamila Nowak, 39, who has lived in the area for five years, said she struggles to find things to do locally. "Why would people come here except to live, I mean, there isn't much around, there is just so many chains," she explained. "I just come here and commute out, that's it. I'm sure there are some things, but nothing enough to draw people to the area. I like some of the people here, but I'm not surprised others want to leave."
Soaring house prices and an average income significantly lower than the rest of London have made Newham especially hard hit by the cost of living, possibly contributing to people choosing to leave for cheaper alternatives.
Nadia Khan, a resident passing through Canning Town, highlighted the social impact of the exodus. "There have always been a lot of people coming and going here, but I think because way more people have left than come in, it just means that it's harder for everyone to know each other like they used to. People feel more isolated," she said. "If there were more things to do around here, people might get to know each other a bit better."
Council response to population trends
MyLondon approached Newham Council to ask how this trend was affecting the council's resources. A spokesperson said: "The Council continues to use ONS mid-year population estimates alongside a wide range of national and local data, intelligence, resident engagement, and insight from voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations to understand the needs of residents and service users to inform service planning."
The ONS data underscores a broader national trend of urban-to-regional movement, but Newham's specific combination of high housing costs, limited local attractions, and weakening community bonds appears to be accelerating departures. As the borough continues to see more people leave than arrive, the long-term composition and social fabric of Newham may be significantly reshaped.
