Last month I cycled the four miles between two of London’s most iconic brutalist housing estates, the Barbican and Robin Hood Gardens.
Both were designed by eminent architects around 40 years ago. Both have been praised and condemned in equal measure. One is a private estate and one is social housing. One is thriving, the other facing demolition. Their contrasting fortunes say a great deal about British housing policy over the past 40 years. Continue reading
“Whoever makes two ears of corn to grow where only one grew before, deserves better of mankind, and does more essential service to his country than the whole race of politicians put together”, said Jonathan Swift.
And if you can build two homes where only one stood before so much the better. That appears to be one of the key aims of David Cameron’s announcement about transforming “sink estates”. The report for the Cabinet Office by Savills is clearly influenced by three principal players: Alex Morton, Create Streets and Lord Adonis. Continue reading
Never mind the Housing Bill, the big housing story of the past month has been flooding. Images of houses under six feet of water have much more impact than MPs burning the midnight oil discussing amendments to a Bill that probably few people are even aware of. Continue reading
As 2015 draws to an end it’s worth reflecting on what a horrid year this has been for housing associations. Attacked by Downing Street for waste and tardiness, lured into a premature and unnecessary right to buy deal that split the sector, re-classified as public bodies, hit by grant and rent cuts, the replacement of affordable homes by starter homes on section 106 sites – the list is long. Could it have been much worse? Continue reading
Colin Wiles 