Housing: Where’s the Plan?

Housing is a fundamental necessity, and yet it is generally acknowledged that we have a housing crisis in the UK. The housing market has worked well for many people (who haveenjoyed the steeply rising values of their homes), which is why change, especially new building,is resisted. But for increasing numbers it now works less well, as home ownership is out of reach. Government finds it easier to introduce short-term policies that are not really effective, meaningthat the long-term issues are never really resolved. Reforms are urgently needed. There are many national policy aims, including decent homes for all, protection of the greenbelt, better design of buildings and places, avoidance of price volatility, and intergenerationalfairness. We also have an existing housing stock that is wrongly located, and some of thehousing we do have is of poor quality. With so many conflicting views, strong local feelingsand a balance to be struck between growth and conservation, what housing market outcomesmight be regarded as a success for policymakers? This book dispels some common myths, andprovides answers in the form of policy recommendations.

Housing is a fundamental necessity, and yet it is generally acknowledged that we have a‘housing crisis’ in the UK. The housing market has worked well for many people (who haveenjoyed the steeply rising values of their homes), which is why change, especially new buildingis resisted. But for increasing numbers it now works less well, as home ownership is out of reach.Government finds it easier to introduce short-term policies that are not really effective, meaningthat the long-term issues are never really resolved. Reforms are urgently needed.There are many national policy aims, including decent homes for all, protection of the greenbelt, better design of buildings and places, avoidance of price volatility, and intergenerationalfairness. We also have an existing housing stock that is wrongly located, and some of thehousing we do have is of poor quality. With so many conflicting views, strong local feelingsand a balance to be struck between growth and conservation, what housing market outcomesmight be regarded as a success for policymakers? This book dispels some common myths, andprovides answers in the form of policy recommendations.