- Housing crisis could provoke social unrest
New research by the London School of Economics and the Federation of Master Builders suggests there is capacity in existing communities to meet the UK’s housing demand by re-using small, empty sites of up to 2 ha
Simple as that sounds, their report quickly acknowledges that the housing crisis cannot be solely about improving supply. It must be judged against other pressures, such as economic change, sustainability and, increasingly, social cohesion.
As the report suggests, social cohesion “becomes a catchphrase” as cities evolve. Wealthier people move on and demand new homes, leaving behind depleted, impoverished communities with underused infrastructure.
“Unequal conditions become serious when resources are tied up in building communities, however ideal those are,” the report says.
The threat to social cohesion was seen in the election when British National Party (BNP) leader Nick Griffin fought for the deprived east London seat of Barking. The BNP had hoped to exploit local disaffection with housing shortages, unemployment and the pressure on services through immigration.
In the event, Griffin was easily beaten by sitting Labour MP Margaret Hodge, and the BNP lost all 12 of its seats on Barking and Dagenham Council in the accompanying local election. Yet Hodge was able to “smash this wave of fascism” largely because of a high-profile campaign by the Hope Not Hate organisation, which lobbies to expose the far right and was supported by singer Billy Bragg at a concert at University of London Union in March (pictured).
The question remains: could the housing shortages ignite social unrest elsewhere? Anne Power, professor of social policy at the LSE and co-author of the report, says: “A more likely cause of unrest is young people not getting work, or large social housing estates becoming islands of neglect, or inner city, multi-racial areas experiencing friction because there are fewer jobs and less money.”
Power adds: “A more likely consequence of housing shortages is greater family instability. Overcrowding and housing shortages will put pressure on children. It will be more difficult for young people to move for jobs or new opportunities.
I think it will become a stranglehold on a lot of people’s lives if they are on a low income.”
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