10 votes

‘Build more housing’ is no match for inequality

2 comments

  1. The_Fad
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    "Houses are too expensive, I can't live where I want to," complained the middle manager. "We need to build more houses, that will drive down prices," proffered the traditional economist. "More...

    "Houses are too expensive, I can't live where I want to," complained the middle manager.

    "We need to build more houses, that will drive down prices," proffered the traditional economist.

    "More housing will not resolve our social quandaries," explained the activist academic.

    "I'm told it's going to storm tonight," intoned the homeless man.

    1 vote
  2. Bullmaestro
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    I actually disagree and think it's the best solution. The UK housing market is a prime example of how demand has outstripped supply and has jacked up prices in cities like London. There is a...

    I actually disagree and think it's the best solution.

    The UK housing market is a prime example of how demand has outstripped supply and has jacked up prices in cities like London. There is a backlog of 3.9 million homes in the UK which has only exacerbated the country's homelessness crisis.

    Now there may be more properties being built but those are usually privately owned luxury or student flats that go into four figure monthly rent prices, not affordable homes that the working class desperately need. I don't see the government meeting its targets either because the Tories we currently have in charge don't seem to care about the poor.

    If there's a reason for this shortfall, I feel it's because of the overly strict planning laws in the UK. Green belt laws prevent businesses and councils from expanding outside of a city's borders and historical preservation laws has resulted in a huge rise in listed properties that they can't do anything with because renovation costs are high and they can't be knocked down. If these laws were relaxed, we'd see big businesses expanding their affordable home efforts and expanding the city borders.