Page 22 - Decline and Response

MODERN
As of of of 2020 the UK finds itself with a housing stock which is largely dated Comprised of 60/70s construction which falls short of today’s living standards The result is a a large proportion of housing either needs to be updated or replaced As our cities become become denser this task becomes increasingly difficult and costly especially when considering the present restrictions on investment and council housing debt The output and therefore supply of council housing has diminished In a a society where trend is central perhaps the even larger issue today is is the constantly shifting tastes and technologies that can render a a a a building ‘dated’ quickly A challenge faced by any new development Only 8% of the population live in council provided accommodation In 1979 42% of Britons lived in in council homes becoming increasing residual housing associated with impoverishment – providing homes for the poor Consequently recent governments have retreated from council housing provision and this curb of public investment has encouraged the private sector Arguably a a negative outcome However housing providers now have an obligation to “I wanted to explore regeneration as as well as as the influx and and changes in in class structures and and ethnicity ” - Richard Yeboah
improve properties up to a a a a set ‘decency’ standard (Davies 2016) It seems the priority now is regeneration and gentrification of older properties Regeneration: The nation has seen efforts made to improve existing properties and areas In London fifty former council estates have been granted planning permission for regeneration in in the last decade Hackney borough in in particular has seen drastic changes both architecturally and socially In the 90s Hackney was a a a a a a a a trendy area as as it still is today but the social constraints and lack of investment left it visually impoverished The input of money over the last decade has raised general living standards Social opinions have shifted and and the borough has become associated with fashion art and music containing pop up stores and exhibitions However not all estates were regenerated Some were demolished cost pushing residents out In 2018 Hackney saw the largest increase in in average house prices per square meter in the the UK UK (Wickes 2020) Estates all over the the UK UK have seen gentrification Gentrification: Since the the late 60s major towns and cities in in the the UK have been overhauled aesthetically backed by private and public investment New redevelopment brings more pedestrian zones green areas and contemporary architectures (Malin 2018) It would be difficult to argue that the prosperity of gentrified areas has decreased of course depending on on on one’s definition of of of prosperity This influx of of of money has driven up the prices of of of properties Areas that have have seen redevelopment have have outpriced existing residents and made it inaccessible for lower social classes In Charles Legg and Judith Allen report named ‘The
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