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Welcome... M
ixed tenure. Now, that’s a phrase to conjure with. We hear this more and more often and most often in association when pundits talk about social housing. Let’s hark back for a moment to the traditional village of yore. It was layered by social class, by wealth and by education. The rich and the poor lived side by side and each level accepted and respected the other. Tiny cottages, burning peat maybe, were huddled at the edge of the squire’s rolling acres. Indeed, the squire then was most likely also to double as the social landlord since many of his workers lived in tied cottages. That was England then; the England of today is very, very different.
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation is always a good source of informed information about the subject of these estates. One report has examined the experience of three mixed tenure estates in Norwich, Middlesborough and Peterborough. It concluded that while not all the benefits claimed for such developments are realistic, there are benefits and the policy is worth continuing. It appears that housing design similarities and a comprehensively planned environment help to produce a relative absence of tenure
prejudice. Mixed tenure might be a useful policy tool to prevent anti-social behaviour. Well planned mixed tenure developments are better able to support extended family networks; this is important both for divorced and separated people who form new families and for inter-generational support.
Plausible suggestions for ideal tenure proportions are that dominance by any single tenure should not exceed 50% or that the mix should mimic the national owned-to-rented ratio (close to 70:30). The government
requirement.is 60:40 for schemes it backs under PPI.
There are some great examples of which the Adelaide Wharf beside the canal in London’s E2 is often cited and many other fine projects throughout the Kingdom. However, sadly, there are several others which start with good intentions but which fail at the first brick - the social part faces the road, the private one faces the sun and so on. Once again, money dominates, divide and rule undermines.
There is of course a ‘new’ problem and that is that ‘cities’ are now being formed within cities themselves. There is coming a return to
a modern form of ghetto – or maybe themed area is a less harsh description.. Historically, we embraced such places as London and San Francisco’s China towns for all their colour, gaiety and welcoming interest. We shall nether embrace nor be embraced by these areas divided by colour, creed and class.
This matter needs to be addressed and very rapidly if we are to become truly multi- cultural and not a fragmented jigsaw of little “countries” and no-go areas stitched together. The building industry in general and the housing market in particular must recognise that it is no longer just a question of land, design and carbon footprints – mixed tenure has changed and it's on the agenda near you! Specification Magazine will do whatever it takes to bring this vital debate into the public domain.
Welcome to Specification Magazine
DAVID STILES PUBLISHING DIRECTOR
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