ABSTRACT
Housing has and always will be important. The quantity, quality and location of new homes are major factors in determining how people live their lives, the opportunities they enjoy and the contribution they can make to a wider society. The way in which new homes are delivered has an impact that extends far beyond the physical environment. New housing in the wrong place may, on occasion, mean the unwanted consumption of greenfield land, but it is equally likely to mean that people are locked out of social networks, are unable to secure employment and, through no fault of their own, contribute to unsustainable living. Poor quality housing – whether poorly planned in the wider sense, or badly designed – has been the hallmark of a commodity culture where housing has sometimes been seen as nothing more than a demand good, to be thrown up wherever the price is right. This does little to enhance quality of life or to meet the aspirations of a population whose needs constantly change.
