ABSTRACT
Since the 1990s the UK government has espoused the concept of the compact city and adopted a policy of absorbing growth within existing urban areas. This approach is resulting in an increase in residential densities in areas of high demand. The focus of government policy has been on building new homes, but there are concerns about shortfalls in the provision of family housing and of infrastructure to meet the needs of the expanded population. This chapter focuses on the provision of family housing and school places, which are key factors in attracting and retaining families with children in dense urban areas and which will thus have an impact on social sustainability.
