UK Housing Policy: Sold Down the River

Peter Ambrose's "Sold Down the River" Programme One: Housing - Why it matters

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It is becoming increasingly evident that our housing situation is in crisis. Shortage of low cost rented housing, overcrowding, poor conditions, escalating prices with, at intervals, severe slumps, negative equity and rising repossessions, problems of labour recruitment and retention for employers, irresponsible house purchase lending leading to serious financial crises and even bank failures – all these are aspects of housing policy mismanagement. The provision of sufficient safe, affordable housing in good condition is not some ‘social extra’ – it is a vital part of the economic infrastructure of the nation. Why have we reached this stage? Because in recent decades policies have been driven by crisis management, short-termism and ideologies that ‘the market’ will solve all problems. It will not – and the consequences carry very heavy costs. All these arguments are made and evidenced in the Zacchaeus 2000 Trust Memorandum to the Prime Minister on Unaffordable Housing (2005) Notes Time 1.20 What is the Affordable Housing Problem? attached Local Government Association, Councils and the Housing Crisis, May 2008 - this report gives a projection of future Waiting List figures. UK Housing Review 2007/8 edited by Steve Wilcox - the UK Housing Review published annually collates a very wide range of statistics in relation to all aspects of housing in the UK. 2.40 House price fantasy attached 3.15 The survey is available at http://www.hbosplc.com/economy/includes/13_04_07Keyworkers.doc 3.40. This point is further explained in Programme Three 4.20 Peter Ambrose, Love the Work, Hate the Job: Low Cost but Acceptable - Wage Levels and the ‘Exported Costs’ of Low Pay in Brighton and Hove, HSPRC Report, University of Brighton (2003)  Living and Working in the South East ( LAWSE) Project report for Unison Peter Ambrose Second Best Value - The Central Stepney SRB - how non-joined-up Government policies undermine the cost-effectiveness in regeneration, University of Brighton (2002). The four reports covering the Central Stepney 'Health Gain' study of 1995-2001 show clearly that a very considerable health gain occurred as the housing and living conditions were improved - but that the resultant 27% increase in housing costs (rent, water and Council Tax) might well be eroding that health gain as spending is squeezed on other essential health-protective items. Housing unaffordability is itself a threat to health. 7.30 UNICEF IRC Report Card 7, An Overview of Child Well-being in Rich Countries, (2007) 8.00 Z2K Memorandum to the Prime Minister on Unaffordable Housing, 2005, Appendices 11-14 9.00 Article 'What is the Affordable Housing Problem?'  Professor Peter Ambrose BA, AKC, MA, D.Phil, FRSA Visiting Professor in Housing Studies Health and Social Policy Research Centre Brighton University Friend of London Citizens Associate of the Zacchaeus 2000 Trust   Links: Profile of Peter Ambrose Urban Process and Power Article on Affordable Housing Housing Affordability Standard - April 2008 (2,454 KB) Professor Ambrose works with the Zacchaeus 2000 Trust and their principles are as follows: We will combat poverty, and related ill health and educational underachievement; We will promote the improvement of living and working conditions on the basis of economic and social justice in pursuit of a society that is fully inclusive of people of every race, colour and creed through the provision of evidence based policy alternatives to government. We will pursue policies that are rooted in the experiences of the disadvantaged and excluded people of the United Kingdom, and the work of NGOs among them. They will be designed to reform the structures that create those conditions. We oppose discrimination and inequality, both between men and women and between generations. Aware of the pressures placed on the national economy and society by the globalised free market we will promote an economy in the United Kingdom aiming to generate the conditions of full employment in which all can share the financial burdens and opportunities of a democratic nation. We will operate without allegiance to any political party while promoting, vigorously, policies that are consistent with this statement of principles to all political parties and to the government of the day. 38 Ebury Street, London SW1W 0LU Telephone: 020 7259 0801 - Fax 020 7259 0701 - Mobile: 0796 11 77 88 9 e-mail: admin@z2k.org Andrey Vinogradov supplied the music for this programme for which we are all very grateful. Born in 1959 in Ekaterinburg (Northern Ural), Andrey Vinogradov has studied and been exposed to a variety of musical genres, everything from classical jazz to jazz-rock. He has now settled down in folky niche, where he creates his classic but unique blend of sounds. He graduated with highest honors from the Moscow Gnessin Music College and completed his education at Gnessin Academy of Music. Later, as part of well-known Russian jazz-rock group, he  recorded two LPs: The Arsenal, directed by revered saxophonist Alexei Kozlov, The second, Wind and Pulse 3, which were later released on the CDs Time-scorched III and Time-scorched IV (1997-1998). Ever since his youth, Andrey's goal has been to create innovative unions between the most diverse of musical genres by combining elements of classical, jazz and folk music. Fair Use Notice This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. 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