Summer Simpson’s Post

Looking promising! Housing Diversity is the key and communities should be at the heart of housing.

Promising news

One of the strangest things about our country is the way communities have so little influence over their built environment. Any truly democratic system would surely give absolute primacy to the people who will be living, working and playing for decades to come in the homes, workplaces and public spaces that surround them. But like so much else, power and resource in the realm of the built environment resides not with communities and citizens but with a combination of the big state and big business. Indeed when it comes to the history of housing in the UK, we spent around forty years after 1945 with power broadly residing in the state and their army of experts, and then the next forty years doing everything we could to empower city investors and their army of profit-motivated developers. Even now the Government is locked in a row over whether to favour the state or business when it comes to their ambitious house-building plans. With both sides seemingly comfortable with the idea that the best way to build is to cut communities out of the process even more than they already are. This report published today argues for a fundamentally new approach that puts communities and citizens right at the heart of the built environment. That means much deeper consensus-building engagement with communities but it also means opening up the space and funding for new models of community ownership and involvement such as community land trusts and co-operatives. These models should be central to our built environment as they are in places like Vienna and Zurich where high quality, genuinely affordable housing and highly liveable public space is the norm rather than the exception. The report is packed full of great case studies, lots of evidence and healthy community-powered argument! Really pleased to have worked on it with Imran Hashmi and the whole New Local team. Do have a read and share your thoughts. #property #localgov #community Jessica Studdert Katy Oglethorpe Katie Kelly Naomi Rubbra Paul Clark Jon Alexander Dr Jess Steele, OBE Samira Ben Omar Chris Brown Tom Chance Marc Stears Claudia Chwalisz Imandeep Kaur Rebecca Trevalyan https://lnkd.in/ebprmAe8

This is very worth a read, but the part of it I disagree with is that summarised by the statement "give absolute primacy to the people who will be living, working and playing for decades to come in the homes, workplaces and public spaces that surround them". This is not functionally equivalent to "give *the existing community* that absolute primacy". Sure, some will be there for a long time, but others certainly won't, and there is no voice in this model for future generations (either in the area, or around it) and those people who might live in new houses or developments. This is not to say that community voice isn't important, but (a) it needs to take future needs and future people into account in a way that engaging the current community can't easily do; (b) it needs to match engagement in the local plan process with engagement in specific schemes that doesn't allow communities to endlessly say "yes but not this", if it meets the conditions of the local plan; (c) there needs to be an understanding of the financial viability of the schemes, and support to ensure that mix, social housing etc is properly supplied not stuck in a corner by the bins.

🌻 Housing & Design / Indigenous knowledge as a path to learning? This article brought to mind the many extraordinary leaders in Australia (I'm especially aware of Kevin O'Brien, Alison Page, Paul Memmott, but I know there are many others) who remind us that housing in Indigenous communities is about so much more than structures. It’s about honoring culture, land, and community. There’s much to learn from First Nations knowledge; how homes can reflect connection to Country, support multigenerational living, and foster sustainability. As Alison Page shared in an interview last year with Australian Design Review, "Indigenous reason for being is caring for Country. Our perspectives can invite people to engage with Country and places on a multi-dimensional level... There is a growing invitation for all people to care for Country, even in the context of a large city, it doesn’t just have to be a natural landscape.” She also helpfully pointed out that "Indigenous architecture is not a style, but a culturally appropriate process." Much to learn. #firstnationswisdom, #indigenousarchitecture, #communityleddesign, #sustainablehousing, #connectiontocountry, #culturalresilience, #indigenousleadership, #respectforcountry, #economicempowerment, #housingjustice

Diversified development has three main advantages: aesthetically, it allows the community to grow in a way that is more respectful of its context; economically, it allows local people to build local wealth by investing in their place; and, from an affordability perspective, it can deliver moderate-income housing at affordable prices without public subsidy. 💰 So what is "incremental development" and how can it help make housing more affordable? Let's head to Vancouver to learn more: https://lnkd.in/ee6z-ZxQ #incrementaldevelopment #affordablehousing

What if part of the answer to the affordable housing crisis lies in re-using more existing buildings? While post-war and other social housing projects were sometimes proven to be extremely flawed, one answer is initiating revitalization projects that fix the issues, make more affordable housing units available, and lower the carbon footprint of housing. Efforts like these can also be vital in preserving communities. This article looks at the challenges and rewards of these projects, and what they can do to help our cities become more affordable: https://buff.ly/3t16NBf #housingcrisis #affordablehousing #socialhousing #housingprojects #architecture #urbanplanning

For decades, regulatory barriers/inconsistencies and outdated building practices have hindered the widespread adoption of modular building here in the U.S. But the potential benefits of modular are real - and really exciting! The New York Times recently highlighted how industrialized housing can (and is) quickly providing permanent homes and fostering community stability abroad. For all of our friends working in CRE, what changes do you think are needed here in the U.S. to make modular a more common methodology? Check out the article for an in-depth look into Sweden's successful approach to modular housing, and stay tuned for more on how some of our clients are making strides in the modular space... #SideCarPR #createhousing #modularhousing #innovationinconstruction #housingsolutions #newyorktimes #makeitmakesense

How do we deliver social value through the housing sector? I really enjoyed this Social value Live discussion hosted by Building Design. Building Magazine and Housing Today. In a nutshell, the housing sector needs to consider: 🏘️ Designing housing projects that promote #communitywellbeing and #inclusivity. 💡 Employing #innovation to deliver secure, comfortable, affordable housing. 📊 #Measuring social impact to ensure economic empowerment and better living conditions. 🤝 #Engagingstakeholders to align housing projects with community needs. ⚖️ #Ethical considerations to make it fairer and more equitable. You can watch on-demand here: https://lnkd.in/e7PFjemn

Here's more on our Gununa Futures project.