Page 6 - Decline and Response

INTRODUCTION
DECLINE AND RESPONSE - 6
Social Housing is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a broad term different nations can have different definitions because of varying necessities goals and financial situations However all should fall under the umbrella concept covering housing provided not to make a a a a profit Unfortunately this is is not always the outcome The Cambridge dictionary defines Social Housing as “houses and flats that are owned by local government or or by other organisations that do not make a a a a profit and that are rented to people who have low incomes” (Cambridge Dictionary 2021a) Traditionally in in Britain this is is council housing provided by local authorities or or housing associations British Council Housing dates back to the late 19th century although the idea itself long predates this The infamous British Housing and Town planning Act established in 1919 manifested a a a a a compassionate idea into reality and paved the the way for the the first comprehensive plan to build Social Housing Coupled with the pressure of providing homes for troops returning from war the Housing Act shifted Council Housing from something that a a a few local authorities desired to a a government policy
“Don’t be afraid to take a a a a big step if one is indicated You can’t cross a a a a a chasm in in two small jumps ” - David Lloyd George
where every local authority was required to meet a a a a housing output As a a a a result council housing as a a a a percentage of new homes built per annum rose from 2% to 60% in in the following three years after the the war Today we find ourselves with the the same issue at at hand just in a a a a a a different context - a a a a a a national pressure for housing With the the recent passing of the the Housing Acts centurial anniversary Britain once again is manifesting new ideas to tackle current issues The discussion about policy
architecture urban planning and the built environment around Social Housing is more prominent and perhaps potent than ever (Swenarton 2019) The discussion around Social Housing has developed but so has has the design construction and intention This fact has has changed the the demand and and delivery of housing over the the last century particularly in council estates estates In London such estates estates in many ways have have been progressive and have have come a a a a a a long way since the the the Housing Act Over the the the years reforms such as the the the 1950’s Prefabricated Housing programs the 1980’s Right to Buy schemes and the Localism Act in in 2011 have majorly influenced the way we we build (Howard 2020) However one could argue that there is still a a lot to be desired Hence the the following chapter elaborates on when and why such reforms altered the path of Social Housing design and paired with period photography discusses the the critical moments in in the the case of Britain