The housing crisis:
what happens next?
The housing crisis is leaving millions in the UK in unaffordable, insecure or unsuitable accommodation and we need to act. As a practice united by a genuine sense of social and economic purpose, it’s our responsibility to radically re-think the approach to the crisis – the way we build, where we build, and how we work together to navigate such a critical moment.
↓Our six principles for how we tackle the housing crisis
1
REWRITE
THE RULES
Established processes are resistant to change and current concepts of liveable spaces don’t deliver on the issues facing individuals and families today. We need to re-imagine our approach to the creation of communities and the environments in which they exist.
2
CHALLENGE EVERYTHING
Existing planning fails to provide for the demands of an increasingly diverse population. We need to re-evaluate our view of what is usable or re-usable space. We need to see possibilities where none appear to exist. We need to question how we live, how we work and how we interact with each other, and we need to re-define how those activities co-exist in the future.
3
IT’S AN
EVERYONE ISSUE
Creating a responsible, workable, system of housing provision that creates value for business and society requires buy-in from every sector of the industry. We face a crisis that impacts on us all and we will only construct a way forward together.
4
REJECT THE
MONOCULTURE
One size does not fit all. Current construction trends rely on 1-2 bed flats that allow developers to tick housing provision boxes and prioritise profit margins over people. These are not sustainable communities. We need varied developments that incorporate a range of uses, that cater for a broad demographic, and that provide an environment in which generations can grow and prosper.
5
DON’T TURN CRISIS INTO CALAMITY
Quick fixes and short-term solutions risk deepening existing issues, particularly in dense urban areas. We must develop intelligent, considered and comprehensive solutions that deliver meaningful change and which create a platform for a sustainable future.
6
HOMES ARE MORE THAN HOUSES
Building homes means more than providing spaces in which to live. Homes nurture the spirit, provide security, raise expectations and foster ambition. But they’re only possible if they’re part of a community immediately connected to resources, amenities and to opportunities. As an industry we need to move away from being house builders and become homemakers.
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