London’s housing crisis is a real and multifaceted problem, but responses to it are incoherent and weakly evidenced.
There is an evident need for improvements in London’s housing market, including more and higher-quality new construction, enhanced affordability, and a better match between households and dwellings. During 2014-15, LSE London explored these issues through programming tied to four major themes:
Each theme addressed the major barriers to improving London’s housing crisis and explored innovative ways forward through workshops, site-visits, and stakeholder focus groups. Multimedia outputs brought bring the project to life, with thought-provoking research expressed through blog posts, short films and an interactive map. The project included a provocative debate to coincide with the production of party manifesto priorities, tying our research and findings to material action. A final conference drew on all themes, involve international experts facing similar issues, and set the agenda for the debate moving towards the Mayoral and local government elections in 2016.
LSE London has a long legacy of producing influential housing-related research and bringing together key stakeholders involved in London’s most pressing economic and social issues. This HEIF 5 project will draw on our previous success facilitating similar discussions about pressing issues like migration.
Details of every project event, discussion, and publication will also be presented on this site. Check back frequently to find out ways you can get involved and to follow the exciting conversation as it progresses.
PUBLICATIONS
Reports and Articles
Whitehead, C.M.E., Fernández, M., Scanlon, K., & Holman, N. Housing in London: Addressing the Supply Crisis (Final Report & Executive Summary) 12 October 2015.
Fernández, M. & Scanlon, K. Co-designing senior co-housing. Urban Design. Autumn 2015.
Whitehead, C.M.E. & Sagor, E. The impact of new housing development on surrounding areas 27 Jul 2015.
Ellis, K. & Whitehead, C.M.E. Affordability: A Step Forward - New Report May 2015.
Whitehead, C.M.E. & Sagor E. with Edge, A., & Walker, B. Understanding the local impact of new residential development – a pilot study Apr 2015.
Holman, N., Whitehead, C.M.E., Scanlon, K., Fernández, M., & Sagor, with E. Mossa, A.(Videographer) PRS Profiles: Learning from tenants’ experiences to improve private renting in London 21 Mar 2015.
Scanlon, K. & Fernández, M. Development of new cohousing: lessons from a London scheme for the over-50s. 14 April 2015.
Cheshire, P., Tonkiss, F., Hamnett, C., Negrini, J., & Lammy, D. Debate: accelerating residential development in London – what works? 10 Dec 2014.
Whitehead, C.M.E. Lyons and London: Labour’s latest housing review should not ignore initiatives in the capital. 6 Nov 2014.
LSE London. Launch Event: Thematic Briefing Notes. 17 Sep 2014.
Whitehead, C.M.E. & Scanlon, K. Rent Stabilisation: Principles and International Experience 10 Aug 2014.
Scanlon, K., Whitehead, C.M.E., & Fernández, M. Social Housing in Europe 2 Jul 2014.
Whitehead, C.M.E., Scanlon, K., Williams, P., & Gibb, K. Building the Rented Sector in Scotland. 1 Dec 2013.
Whitehead, C.M.E., Travers, T., Scanlon, K., & Fernández, M. Creating Conditions for Growth. 17 Oct 2013.
Scanlon, K. Fernández, M., Whitehead, C.M.E. A Lifestyle Choice for Families? Private Renting in London, New York, Berlin and the Randstad. 1 September 2013.
Scanlon, K. & Kochan, B. Towards a Sustainable Private Rented Sector. 17 Sep 2011.
Site Profiles
Walters Way, Featherstone Lodge, Havelock Walk. Video: Lessons from a visit to three alternative housing sites in south London. (Videographers: Leizaola, R. & Boer, L.) 20 Apr 2015.
Fizzy Living, Fizzy and the ‘good landlord’ model. Peon-Veiga, R. & Habra, K. 20 Apr 2015.
Pocket, Why Pocket works: size may not matter when it comes to affordable housing. Habra, K. & Trindle, T. 20 Apr 2015.
Y-Cube, Prefab is Back in Town. Trindle, T. & Walch, B. 20 Apr 2015.
Bow Arts Live/Work Units: Learning from live/work. Walch, B. & Peon-Veiga, R. 20 Apr 2015.
Stratford Halo & East Village. Video: A New Model for PRS in London? 18 Feb 2015.
Millbrook Park, Barnet. 27 Nov 2014.Site Profile: Stratford Halo & East Village. Video: A New Model for PRS in London? 18 Feb 2015.
Ailsa Street, Tower Hamlets. 24 Nov 2014.
Debate: accelerating residential development in London – what works? 10 Dec 2014.
‘Game Changer’ for Housing Supply: Fran Tonkiss’ Thoughts. 10 Dec 2014.
‘Game Changer’ for Housing Supply: Chris Hamnett’s Thoughts. 10 Dec 2014.
‘Game Changer’ for Housing Supply: Paul Cheshire’s Thoughts. 10 Dec 2014.
‘Game Changer’ for Housing Supply: David Lammy’s Thoughts. 10 Dec 2014.
Blogs
The role of Housing Associations in accelerating residential development in London. 11 Aug 2015
Towards a community of practice: notes from a London Local Authority roundtable 7 May 2015.
Political party manifestos – anything for London’s housing? 22 Apr 2015.
Is foreign money necessary for accelerating housing development in London? (Workshop) 3 Mar 2015.
From our own corRUPSpondent: Marching for homes. 20 Feb 2015.
Increasing the range of alternative approaches to supply in London can significantly increase output (Workshop) 14 Jan 2015.
Accommodating 'Generation Rent' -- how to overcome barriers to institutional investment in London's private rented sector (Workshop) 3 Dec 2014.
Accelerating new housing production in London -- what works? (Workshop) 7 Nov 2014.
Lyons and London: Labour’s latest housing review should not ignore initiatives in the capital. 6 Nov 2014.
Alternative housing could be the answer to London’s housing crisis. 8 Oct 2014.
Miliband’s proposals: Old fashioned rent control or a better operating market? 6 Mar 2014.
London’s housing crisis is real, but the Mayor’s housing strategy falls short on solutions. 26 Feb 2014.
In the news
Grahame, C. Councils looking to alternative housing as part of the solution to the supply crisis. (LSE London HEIF5 - Housing in London project mentioned).The Guardian. 6 May 2015.
Housing Over the Airwaves: Nancy Holman and Christine Whitehead discuss the supply crisis on Radio 4. (Christine Whitehead comments). 23 Feb 2015
Planning and housing – why the continuing tensions? (Christine Whitehead presents). 11 Nov 2014.
The six ‘basics’ underpinning London’s housing problem. (Christine Whitehead presents). 13 Oct 2014.
Six ways to ‘cool the housing market’. (Kath Scanlon comments). 29 Aug 2014
LSE London works with Camden to explore rent regulation. (Christine Whitehead and Kath Scanlon commissioned to produce report on Camden rent market). 14 Jul 2014.
Micro housing: the answer to London’s housing crisis? (Nancy Holman, Kath Scanlon, and Melissa Fernández comments) Design-buildnetwork.com. 7 Jul 2014.
House Prices: Same street, different property market (Kath Scanlon comments). BBC Business. 2 Jun 2014.
Whitehead, C.M.E. Re-evaluating the Greenbelt will deliver more homes. Propublica. 27 May 2014.
LSE experts submit joint response challenging Mayor’s Housing Strategy. 28 Feb 2014.