Communities made up of private and social housing have to be places where people want to live if they are to be successful, a guide said today. Research carried out by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Chartered Institute of Housing found that in order for these developments to be successful, it was important that people could not tell whether a property was privately owned or was social housing just by looking at it. At the same time it said there needed to be a full range of housing types and sizes located in an attractive environment, with facilities such as parks and good schools.
In a new guide to help private housebuilders and housing associations meet the challenges of creating successful mixed income communities, the groups claimed it was important that a clear assessment of local housing needs and market conditions was carried out when a development was being planned.
They added that it was also important that the vision of the community was promoted and sustained by everyone who was involved in it, including those living in the properties.
The guide is from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. It reports on research led by Professor Nick Bailey from the School of Architecture and the Built Environment at the University of Westminster. The research is based on detailed evaluations of mixed housing estates across England and Scotland and reports on mixed income communities.
Source: 24dash.com
An Opportunity Waiting to Happen: Housing Associations as Community Anchors
A report from HACT that advocates the central role housing associations can take in community regeneration.
www.hact.org.uk
Rural Disadvantage: Priorities for Action
The Commission for Rural Communities published this report, which looks at the effects of the lack of housing on people in rural areas and calls for increased targeting of resources.
www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk
Size Matters - The Need for More Family Homes in London
A shortage of affordable family-sized housing in the Capital is resulting in overcrowding, a report out by the London Assembly has revealed.
www.london.gov.uk
The Future of Regulation of the Affordable Housing Sector in England
This Housing Corporation commissioned report examines the need for changes in the system for regulating affordable housing providers.
www.cih.org/policy
The Costs and Benefits of Groups, Mergers and Partnerships
This report from the CIH and Tribal looks at the costs and benefits of housing association group, merger and non-constitutional partnership arrangements.
www.cih.org/publications
