Solving the housing position - some novel ideas

I was quite inspired reading about a competition run by New London Architecture which looked at how to solve the housing crisis, mainly in London but to be honest the ideas could be equally as applicable across larger cities (and some smaller). Below I’ve explored a few of the suggestions and also thought about my own:

• Housing over public assets: The portfolio of the Government is huge and easily surpasses even the largest REIT so the question is can we simply build on top of it? The idea is proposed to deliver up to 630,000 homes but building apartments over local schools and hospitals. Now to me this isn’t my ideal home, however given the local of public buildings, i.e. good access to transport, it would be ideal for first time buyers, second homes in the capital for those who live up North and affordable housing. This could also be rolled out practically anywhere. You would need some sort of incentive for the public sector – whether a new build or a significant renovation – but this could work.
• Right to replace: Every town, city and even villages has those older areas that could do with a renovation or replacement. The proposal submitted was that you have the right to knock down your home, sell half the site and build a new eco-home on the half you retain. The other half is then also developed – effectively you double the site. Two points on this – I love older houses, they have character and they have space which simply isn’t delivered on modern houses to the same extent. That said I don’t control the world so this would appeal to some people.
• Gap housing: It’s simple but not – you effectively build houses in the space between other houses. This was trialed and was found that 5 houses could be built in a 100m stretch of south-east London. No, not for me. Just the thought of 5 extra houses squeezed between 30 sounds horrific! Grand Designs has experience of showing how waste land can be converted into unique designs between terrace houses but to do this larger scale doesn’t sound like the solution.
• Water homes: We have a lot of it, whether the Thames in London or the canal network across the country. Why not make use of this by creating floating starter homes. Seems simple, works (unless you get water sickness) and can provide relatively cheap housing. But do you really want a floating home.
• Pop up housing: Take the land, pop up some stacked homes! Live in them for a small period of time, say 10 years, until the time is right to completely develop the site. Pack up the homes and move them elsewhere. Okay, this works in principle, quick and cheap housing but why not simple build a development on the land? If the crisis needs housing although stacked homes provides quick solutions it isn’t long term.
• Planning: Make it simpler, make it easier, reduce the time – however you word it this has to be a solution. The process can surely be modernised and streamlined to ensure it does its job – holds developers to account and contributes to the community – but doesn’t leave developments unsure of the yes or no for a long period of time.

There are options and we need to ensure that all options are considered further before anything is taken forward but I think they key is that developers, housebuilders and local government work together to find positive solutions to help those that need housing the most – social housing and housing for first time buyers (you know the affordable kind).

Feel free to contact me 0113 288 2276 or lee.a.wilkinson@uk.pwc.com if you wish to discuss this blog or anything relevant to property and construction.

Lee