Housing for the future: a case for change

Abstract

There is evidence to suggest that housing over recent decades has not received the attention it deserves from policy makers. Policy can at best be described as ad hoc and reactive, based on a general assumption that markets can largely be relied upon to achieve housing objectives. There has arguably been greater concern in national strategy and partnership programmes for about the economic implications of housing availability and its effect on economic competitiveness than for the wider social role of housing and its importance for community. This paper attempts first to characterise current housing policy and then to document where it is failing. The likely future direction of policy, as revealed by new programme initiatives and by the analysis and recommendations of the recent NESC report (NESC 2004) is also analysed.