United Kingdom

Priced out? The housing prices dividing London

Published in Tuesday November 6th, 2012 In In the media

November 06, 2012 Can a new council house scheme aimed at middle income families help to solve the housing crisis in London? And will it preserve the mixed communities the capital is famous for, or increase polarization? London boasts some of the highest-value real estate in the world. Since the onset of the economic crisis, […]

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Homeless families to be expelled from London by councils

Published in Monday November 5th, 2012 In News

November 04, 2012 Survey reveals councils acquiring properties across the UK for vulnerable families due to welfare cuts and high London rents Local authorities in London are preparing to send thousands of homeless families to live in temporary homes outside the capital, in defiance of ministerial demands that people should continue to be housed locally. Councils […]

Housing waiting lists rise to 180,000 in West Midlands, England

Published in Wednesday September 19th, 2012 In In the media

September 17, 2012 The number of people on waiting lists for social housing in the West Midlands region has risen to 180,000, according to the National Housing Federation. It said across the whole region the number had increased by 45% over the past five years. The federation said a “massive shortage” of new homes was to […]

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Cameron and Clegg unveil planning reforms in the UK

Published in Monday September 10th, 2012 In In the media

September 06, 2012 Coalition announces measures designed to boost housing and growth through cash injection and loosening of laws David Cameron and Nick Clegg have announced a package of measures designed to boost the housing industry and growth through an injection of cash, looser planning laws and the lifting of requirements for developers to build affordable […]

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Planning policy in the UK: Don’t blame the countryside for our lack of housing

Published in Monday September 10th, 2012 In In the media

September 06, 2012 Britain is desperately inefficient in its land use, and there are still no measures to bring empty property back on the market The government’s learning curve on planning is like an ant climbing a mountain. Desperate for someone to blame for the lack of growth, David Cameron has fallen back on the […]

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Squatting set to become a criminal offence in the UK

Published in Monday September 3rd, 2012 In In the media

August 31st, 2012 Squatting in a residential building in England and Wales becomes a criminal offence on Saturday, meaning squatters would face jail or a fine. Ministers said it would offer better protection for homeowners and “slam shut the door on squatters once and for all”. The maximum penalty will be six months in jail, a […]

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An Englishman’s castle: social housing in Britain

Published in Thursday August 30th, 2012 In In the media

August 25, 2012 Britain desperately needs more homes IN A city overflowing with people, the Heygate estate, near Elephant and Castle in south London, is an eerie place. Most of the flats lie empty, the windows and doors shuttered with metal plates. Concrete walkways, once intended as “streets in the sky”, extend uselessly into open […]

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In England, this is how we can solve the housing crisis – one home at a time

Published in Tuesday August 14th, 2012 In In the media

August 13, 2012 Liverpool’s Homebaked community land trust is a model for local rebuilding in the wake of failed regeneration projects Directly in front of north Liverpool’s Homebaked community land trust sits Anfield stadium; behind it lies a ladder of tinned-up houses and several acres of rubble. Market triumph dominates one side of the road while […]

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London 2012: affordable housing sidelined in Olympic regeneration

Published in Monday August 6th, 2012 In News

(Português) Since 2009, planning deals in the Olympic area in east London have shown little commitment to regeneration and local needs. As London prepares to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the government has once again announced new plans to boost infrastructure spending to kickstart our sluggish economy. The whole London 2012 project is based on […]

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Social housing evictions ‘harder’ in Scotland

Published in Wednesday August 1st, 2012 In In the media

July 31st, 2012 A law which makes it harder for councils and housing associations to evict tenants for failing to pay their rent has come into place in Scotland. Changes introduced by the Housing Scotland Act 2010 mean social landlords now need to undertake a series of actions before going to court to evict a […]

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