A YOUNG mother is “desperate” to move back to London, after she was forced to move 60 miles away by the council.

Lavonn Grant and her one-year-old daughter are one of 101 families who have been moved to homes at Howe Barracks in Canterbury, Kent, by Redbridge Council.

The 208 homes at the empty army barracks were put up for rent by the Ministry of Defence late last year.

But despite “robust” efforts by Canterbury City Council to secure the homes for families on its social housing list, Redbridge managed to outbid them from 60 miles away.

The mother-of-one was evicted from her studio flat at Redbridge Foyer in Ilford in April.

The Foyer was used by the council to house young homeless people under the age of 22.

But when her eviction notice came, she was told no bed and breakfast accommodation was available in the borough and she had “no choice” but to move to Canterbury.

She told the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme: “I didn’t have a choice in the matter – I had to move here or be homeless.

“It's been really hard in Kent on my own, without my family. I feel so far from them and it's really hard bringing up my daughter without any support, emotionally or financially.

“I'm currently unemployed as I don't have anyone to look after my daughter - so I can't go out to work."

Ms Grant added that she feels uncomfortable taking homes from people on social housing lists in the local area.

She said: “Since arriving here, I've faced a backlash from people on the waiting list for properties in Canterbury.

“I feel bad for those people too - I didn't know we were taking their properties.”

Canterbury resident James McCrossan is so concerned about Redbridge Council using the empty barracks he has started a government petition against it.

It has already gathered over 3,000 signatures.

He said: “The system has allowed the properties to be sold commercially.

“This helps London residents, but it doesn’t help the housing crisis in Canterbury.

“Our growing population is becoming more and more of a problem, and bringing more people in means schools, hospitals and local amenities can’t cope.”

Redbridge Council is currently consulting on proposals to build 16,845 homes across the borough by 2030 as part of its Local Development Plan.

Council leader Cllr Jas Athwal has repeatedly stressed the authority’s “desperate” need to address the borough’s growing population and housing crisis.

He maintains that “doing nothing is not an option” in tackling the huge numbers of homes needed.

In statement Redbridge Council said: "Redbridge Council’s starting point is always to try to find accommodation locally first.

"The percentage of our temporary accommodation which is outside of the borough has been increasing, as the gap between what can be found locally and what we need has widened.

"The budget for temporary accommodation was increased by over £4 million this year from last year, however it’s not just about the cost – the chronic shortage of affordable housing is a London wide issue and due to the pressure in the housing market it has become increasingly difficult for us to secure enough local supply.

"The housing at Howe Barracks in Canterbury can provide homes to 147 families who had previously been living in temporary accommodation.

"In common with other London boroughs, we urgently need to address the affordable housing crisis and we are looking into various options to do this as one of our top priorities."

To sign the petition, see the website.