St Albans has been my home for as long as I can remember. I’ve raised my children here, in a town that has always felt safe and welcoming. But now, I find myself facing a future I never imagined—a future where my children won’t be able to stay in the place they’ve grown up. As property prices continue to skyrocket, it’s becoming clear that St Albans is slipping out of reach, not just for them, but for so many families like ours.

I read somewhere recently that St Albans is now the most expensive place to live in the UK. It’s hard to believe, but it’s true. There’s no affordable housing here anymore. The only properties being built are large, high-priced homes, completely out of reach for young people starting out or families trying to make ends meet. The idea that my children might have to leave the only place they’ve ever known because they can’t afford to live here is heartbreaking.

What worries me even more is the lack of consideration for our children’s futures. It seems like nobody is thinking about them. So many people in St Albans are against new developments, especially those that include social or affordable housing. They argue that these developments will change the character of the town, but in reality, all they’re doing is turning St Albans into a commuter or retirement town—a place where only the wealthy can afford to live.

It’s frustrating and disheartening. We talk about wanting to preserve the charm of St Albans, but at what cost? If we keep building only expensive homes, what future are we leaving for the next generation? My children should be able to live here, close to their family, close to the community they’ve been a part of all their lives. But instead, it feels like they’re being pushed out, forced to move away because there’s simply no place for them here anymore.

I understand the need to protect what makes St Albans special, but we can’t do that by shutting out the future. Our children deserve to have a stake in this town, to be able to afford a home here, to continue the legacy of a community that cares for all its members—not just those who can afford million-pound houses. We need to think beyond our own needs and consider the generations to come. If we don’t, St Albans will become a place where only the rich can live, and the vibrant, diverse community that makes this town so special will slowly disappear.

I want my children to have a future here, but unless something changes, that future seems increasingly unlikely. And that, more than anything, fills me with a deep, lingering sadness.