Calrissian.com : Politics : Policy section : Housing

The housing needs of the UK are very different from what they once were. Today, more people live alone - even some that are in long term relationships. Also, as life expectancy has increased into the late 70's, more homes are now occupied by single elderly people. The social/cultural changes mean that the current stock of 20+ million homes is simply not enough, despite the fact that the population itself is relatively stable at around 60 million.

The new towns scheme was arguably the most useful, wise, and superb governmental policies of the past century. The post war attempt to build revolutionary

A renewed 'New Towns' Policy, with a focus on creating small scale towns, with an emphasis on stopping the major conurbations of the UK (such as the Manchester area) growing any further into rural areas.

Perhaps the most useful strategy the UK could take adopt this decade would be the resurrection of the 'New Towns' development program. Yes, such a proposal would meet some stiff resistance, yet a new set of 6-12 'towns from scratch' appear to be the more simple way of engendering a brand new style of household in the UK. The original New towns plan that was delivered in the post war era was one of the UK's best achievements in the last century.

Mandatory new higher standards for ALL new housing developments
         -Noise issues
         -Insulation improvements
         -Rubbish disposal per house, facilities/ house design must be addressed.

Green space policy , area per. person - the 'garden city policy'

In the drive to get inner cities re-juvenised, there has been a great omission. There has been no consideration taken into account of green space available for local residents. Children and indeed people of all ages in towns and cities across the UK need parks as part of their leisure time.

The price of a standard UK 'semi' has increased quite insanely over the last few decades. Even looking at 2001 prices is shocking - and things have only got worse in recent years.

FACT : NO one gains in the long term from house price inflation. Price increases of any product/asset are always detrimental to the long term health of the economy. UK house prices are such that even people who are earning the average annual salary of around £21,000.

Most people will agree that price increase are a bad thing, yet for some reason the British population retain a psychological blind spot, and believe that rising house prices will be good for them. In the short term, this could well be the case. Yet, over a lifetime house price inflation rarely benefits the average UK citizen.

* I realise what I suggest is contrary to popular culture, yet the fact is that there are now millions of people in their 20's and 30's who live with their parents, unable to enter the property market on a standard UK salary of £22,500. It does the UK no good at all for first time buyers to be entirely priced out of the housing market.

Do we as a nation really want to see our children stuck with us into their 40's even ?

Table 1.0 : Average house prices (£'s) in Welwyn/Hatfield (Hertfordshire), during 2001

	Welwyn/Hatfield		England and Wales
	Average Price £	% of households	Average Price £	% of Households
Detached	338,930	21.4	178,806	22.8
Semi-detached	175,845	23.5	101,733	31.6
Terraced	129,001	37.2	89,499	26.0
Flat	89,464	17.6	120,185	19.2
All Property types :	173,036		119,436
Data Sourced : The Land Registry, 2001, Census, ONS

House design and quality standards have been somewhat erratic across the past haft century. Most notably the crazy 'concrete tower block' concept, which failed primarily due to chronic lack of maintenance after initial construction. A renewed interest in 'building high' in the main urban areas will need to be carefully done, so as to not repeat the same stupid mistake as last time.

The UK's obsession with making money from houses is tragically flawed. In the long run no one benefits from rising house prices - least of all first time buyers. Part of UK Govt. policy should be to see that supply of new homes is massively increased, if only to at least see that more people don't have to live with their parents all their lives !

A new house building scheme is required, one that will take into account the new requirements of the population. Perhaps even a return to the 'garden city' house building days is necessary, one that not only focuses on single dwellings, but on quality of life and space to live.

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