Edwards, M.

English

UCL Discovery

review	 ﾠ	 ﾠof	 ﾠDuncan	 ﾠBowie,	 ﾠ	 ﾠPolitics,	 ﾠPlanning	 ﾠand	 ﾠHomes	 ﾠin	 ﾠa	 ﾠWorld	 ﾠCity,	 ﾠRoutledge,	 ﾠpaperback	 ﾠisbn	 ﾠ978-ﾭ‐0-ﾭ‐415-ﾭ‐48637-ﾭ‐8	 ﾠ£30	 ﾠmax	 ﾠ(also	 ﾠavailable	 ﾠas	 ﾠhardback	 ﾠ£95)	 ﾠappearing	 ﾠin	 ﾠJournal of Housing and the Built Environment  2010 DOI: 10.1007/s10901-010-9193-6	 ﾠBritain	 ﾠhas	 ﾠled	 ﾠthe	 ﾠworld	 ﾠin	 ﾠhanding	 ﾠover	 ﾠpower	 ﾠto	 ﾠmarket	 ﾠforces	 ﾠin	 ﾠalmost	 ﾠevery	 ﾠsphere	 ﾠof	 ﾠlife.	 ﾠThe	 ﾠtransformation	 ﾠof	 ﾠsociety	 ﾠunleashed	 ﾠhere	 ﾠby	 ﾠthe	 ﾠIMF	 ﾠin	 ﾠthe	 ﾠlate	 ﾠ'70s	 ﾠand	 ﾠby	 ﾠThatcher	 ﾠin	 ﾠthe	 ﾠ'80s	 ﾠhas	 ﾠnow	 ﾠbeen	 ﾠunfolding	 ﾠfor	 ﾠ3	 ﾠdecades	 ﾠand	 ﾠsome	 ﾠof	 ﾠthe	 ﾠmost	 ﾠsevere	 ﾠeffects	 ﾠhave	 ﾠarisen	 ﾠin	 ﾠthe	 ﾠhousing	 ﾠfield	 ﾠas	 ﾠyet	 ﾠanother	 ﾠgeneration	 ﾠmakes	 ﾠthe	 ﾠpainful	 ﾠdiscovery	 ﾠthat	 ﾠmarket	 ﾠrelationships	 ﾠdo	 ﾠnot	 ﾠmeet	 ﾠsociety's	 ﾠhousing	 ﾠneeds.	 ﾠ	 ﾠNo	 ﾠsurprise	 ﾠthat	 ﾠhousing	 ﾠis	 ﾠthe	 ﾠcentral	 ﾠissue	 ﾠin	 ﾠurban	 ﾠplanning.	 ﾠThis	 ﾠis	 ﾠespecially	 ﾠso	 ﾠin	 ﾠLondon	 ﾠand	 ﾠsurrounding	 ﾠregions	 ﾠwhere	 ﾠthe	 ﾠcontradictions	 ﾠare	 ﾠat	 ﾠtheir	 ﾠworst:	 ﾠthe	 ﾠlow-ﾭ‐wage	 ﾠpopulations	 ﾠneeded	 ﾠin	 ﾠa	 ﾠglobal	 ﾠcity	 ﾠcan't	 ﾠafford	 ﾠthe	 ﾠmarket	 ﾠrents,	 ﾠcouncil	 ﾠtenants	 ﾠare	 ﾠsqueezed	 ﾠas	 ﾠstock	 ﾠis	 ﾠprivatised	 ﾠand	 ﾠmaintenance	 ﾠpostponed;	 ﾠover-ﾭ‐crowding	 ﾠintensifies	 ﾠin	 ﾠpublic	 ﾠand	 ﾠprivate	 ﾠsectors,	 ﾠemployers	 ﾠhave	 ﾠtrouble	 ﾠrecruiting	 ﾠand	 ﾠretaining	 ﾠstaff	 ﾠbecause	 ﾠhousing	 ﾠcosts	 ﾠare	 ﾠso	 ﾠhigh;	 ﾠconstruction	 ﾠoutput	 ﾠfails	 ﾠto	 ﾠrespond	 ﾠto	 ﾠbooming	 ﾠdemand...	 ﾠ	 ﾠ	 ﾠIn	 ﾠformer	 ﾠtimes	 ﾠthese	 ﾠproblems	 ﾠwere	 ﾠsolved,	 ﾠor	 ﾠat	 ﾠleast	 ﾠmade	 ﾠtolerable,	 ﾠby	 ﾠgood	 ﾠregional	 ﾠand	 ﾠlocal	 ﾠplanning	 ﾠand	 ﾠmanaged	 ﾠsupplies	 ﾠof	 ﾠcheap	 ﾠbuilding	 ﾠland	 ﾠand	 ﾠsocial	 ﾠhousing.	 ﾠNow,	 ﾠhowever,	 ﾠthe	 ﾠconvention	 ﾠis	 ﾠto	 ﾠregard	 ﾠplanning	 ﾠas	 ﾠthe	 ﾠscapegoat	 ﾠor	 ﾠwhipping	 ﾠboy	 ﾠfor	 ﾠall	 ﾠour	 ﾠproblems.	 ﾠIf	 ﾠonly	 ﾠplanning	 ﾠwere	 ﾠless	 ﾠrestrictive,	 ﾠthe	 ﾠmarket	 ﾠwould	 ﾠrespond	 ﾠby	 ﾠswitching	 ﾠto	 ﾠmass	 ﾠproduction	 ﾠand	 ﾠdelivering	 ﾠaffordable	 ﾠhousing	 ﾠfor	 ﾠall	 ﾠ—	 ﾠwe	 ﾠare	 ﾠtold.	 ﾠ	 ﾠWho	 ﾠwould	 ﾠbe	 ﾠa	 ﾠplanner	 ﾠin	 ﾠthese	 ﾠconditions,	 ﾠlet	 ﾠalone	 ﾠa	 ﾠhousing	 ﾠspecialist?	 ﾠDuncan	 ﾠBowie	 ﾠwas	 ﾠalready	 ﾠan	 ﾠexperienced	 ﾠhousing	 ﾠand	 ﾠplanning	 ﾠprofessional	 ﾠwhen	 ﾠhe	 ﾠjoined	 ﾠthe	 ﾠMayor's	 ﾠplanning	 ﾠteam	 ﾠat	 ﾠthe	 ﾠnew	 ﾠGreater	 ﾠLondon	 ﾠAuthority	 ﾠin	 ﾠ2000	 ﾠand	 ﾠhe	 ﾠstuck	 ﾠit	 ﾠout	 ﾠuntil	 ﾠ2008,	 ﾠtaking	 ﾠresponsibility	 ﾠfor	 ﾠhousing	 ﾠwithin	 ﾠthe	 ﾠLondon	 ﾠPlan	 ﾠin	 ﾠboth	 ﾠof	 ﾠKen	 ﾠLivingstone's	 ﾠ4-ﾭ‐year	 ﾠterms	 ﾠof	 ﾠoffice.	 ﾠThis	 ﾠbook	 ﾠis	 ﾠa	 ﾠhighly	 ﾠexpert	 ﾠaccount	 ﾠof	 ﾠthe	 ﾠsuccessive	 ﾠversions	 ﾠof	 ﾠthe	 ﾠLondon	 ﾠPlan	 ﾠand	 ﾠof	 ﾠmany	 ﾠof	 ﾠthe	 ﾠpower	 ﾠstruggles	 ﾠbehind	 ﾠthe	 ﾠscenes	 ﾠThe	 ﾠbook	 ﾠis	 ﾠthat	 ﾠrare	 ﾠthing,	 ﾠan	 ﾠinsider's	 ﾠnarrative	 ﾠof	 ﾠa	 ﾠprocess	 ﾠof	 ﾠplan-ﾭ‐making.	 ﾠA	 ﾠsmall	 ﾠteam	 ﾠwith	 ﾠa	 ﾠvery	 ﾠclear	 ﾠpolicy	 ﾠline	 ﾠfrom	 ﾠKen	 ﾠLivingstone	 ﾠand	 ﾠhis	 ﾠpolitical	 ﾠadvisors	 ﾠproduced	 ﾠan	 ﾠinnovative	 ﾠplan	 ﾠand	 ﾠrevised	 ﾠit	 ﾠtwice,	 ﾠall	 ﾠwithin	 ﾠeight	 ﾠyears.	 ﾠThe	 ﾠstory	 ﾠis	 ﾠtold	 ﾠin	 ﾠdetail	 ﾠand	 ﾠwill	 ﾠbe	 ﾠof	 ﾠintense	 ﾠinterest	 ﾠto	 ﾠprofessionals,	 ﾠacademics,	 ﾠcampaigners	 ﾠand	 ﾠtenants.	 ﾠThe	 ﾠcentral	 ﾠthread	 ﾠof	 ﾠthe	 ﾠbook	 ﾠis	 ﾠthe	 ﾠstruggle	 ﾠto	 ﾠreverse	 ﾠthe	 ﾠdecline	 ﾠin	 ﾠthe	 ﾠstock	 ﾠof	 ﾠsocial	 ﾠrental	 ﾠhousing	 ﾠin	 ﾠLondon	 ﾠto	 ﾠcatch	 ﾠup	 ﾠwith	 ﾠa	 ﾠbacklog	 ﾠof	 ﾠneeds	 ﾠand	 ﾠto	 ﾠkeep	 ﾠpace	 ﾠwith	 ﾠthe	 ﾠgrowth	 ﾠof	 ﾠa	 ﾠpopulation,	 ﾠhalf	 ﾠof	 ﾠwhom	 ﾠcould	 ﾠnot	 ﾠexpect	 ﾠto	 ﾠbecome	 ﾠowner-ﾭ‐occupiers	 ﾠor	 ﾠrent	 ﾠan	 ﾠadequate	 ﾠflat	 ﾠin	 ﾠthe	 ﾠinflated	 ﾠprivate	 ﾠmarket.	 ﾠAll	 ﾠthis	 ﾠwas	 ﾠsupposed	 ﾠto	 ﾠbe	 ﾠdone	 ﾠwithout	 ﾠinfringing	 ﾠon	 ﾠthe	 ﾠsacred	 ﾠGreen	 ﾠBelt	 ﾠand	 ﾠwithout	 ﾠthe	 ﾠMayor	 ﾠhaving	 ﾠany	 ﾠdirect	 ﾠpower	 ﾠor	 ﾠmoney	 ﾠto	 ﾠundertake	 ﾠactual	 ﾠhousing	 ﾠconstruction.	 ﾠ	 ﾠFurthermore	 ﾠall	 ﾠthe	 ﾠauthorities	 ﾠinvolved	 ﾠwere	 ﾠrefusing	 ﾠto	 ﾠconfront	 ﾠthe	 ﾠrelationship	 ﾠbetween	 ﾠGreater	 ﾠLondon	 ﾠ(roughly	 ﾠthe	 ﾠarea	 ﾠinside	 ﾠthe	 ﾠM25)	 ﾠand	 ﾠthe	 ﾠsurrounding	 ﾠcounties	 ﾠwhich	 ﾠprovide	 ﾠhousing	 ﾠfor	 ﾠa	 ﾠthird	 ﾠof	 ﾠthe	 ﾠlabour	 ﾠforce.	 ﾠThe	 ﾠproduction	 ﾠof	 ﾠsocial	 ﾠrented	 ﾠhousing	 ﾠ(and	 ﾠalso	 ﾠof	 ﾠsome	 ﾠ'intermediate'	 ﾠhousing	 ﾠaimed	 ﾠat	 ﾠa	 ﾠmiddle-ﾭ‐income	 ﾠband)	 ﾠwas	 ﾠthus	 ﾠgoing	 ﾠto	 ﾠbe	 ﾠachieved	 ﾠby	 ﾠincreasing	 ﾠdensities	 ﾠwhile	 ﾠrequiring	 ﾠprivate	 ﾠdevelopers	 ﾠto	 ﾠcontribute	 ﾠspace	 ﾠand	 ﾠresources	 ﾠfor	 ﾠaffordable	 ﾠhousing	 ﾠout	 ﾠof	 ﾠthe	 ﾠabnormal	 ﾠprofits	 ﾠthey	 ﾠwould	 ﾠotherwise	 ﾠhave	 ﾠbeen	 ﾠmaking.	 ﾠIn	 ﾠfact,	 ﾠthe	 ﾠbook	 ﾠshows,	 ﾠthat	 ﾠthese	 ﾠdeals	 ﾠwith	 ﾠdevelopers	 ﾠ(under	 ﾠSection	 ﾠ106	 ﾠof	 ﾠthe	 ﾠPlanning	 ﾠAct)	 ﾠdid	 ﾠcontribute	 ﾠto	 ﾠthe	 ﾠprovision	 ﾠof	 ﾠsocial	 ﾠhousing,	 ﾠmainly	 ﾠthrough	 ﾠmaking	 ﾠsites	 ﾠavailable.	 ﾠBut	 ﾠthe	 ﾠgovernment	 ﾠsubsidy	 ﾠremained	 ﾠessential,	 ﾠin	 ﾠall	 ﾠbut	 ﾠ20%	 ﾠof	 ﾠprojects,	 ﾠand	 ﾠone	 ﾠof	 ﾠthe	 ﾠmain	 ﾠreasons	 ﾠwhy	 ﾠthe	 ﾠPlan	 ﾠtargets	 ﾠfor	 ﾠsocial	 ﾠhousing	 ﾠwere	 ﾠnever	 ﾠachieved	 ﾠwas	 ﾠthe	 ﾠinadequacy	 ﾠof	 ﾠgovernment	 ﾠexpenditure.	 ﾠThe	 ﾠbook	 ﾠis	 ﾠespecially	 ﾠvaluable	 ﾠin	 ﾠpresenting	 ﾠdetailed	 ﾠanalysis	 ﾠof	 ﾠthe	 ﾠeconomics	 ﾠof	 ﾠ40	 ﾠmajor	 ﾠhousing	 ﾠdevelopment	 ﾠprojects,	 ﾠexploring	 ﾠthe	 ﾠrelationships	 ﾠbetween	 ﾠdensity,	 ﾠland	 ﾠprices,	 ﾠdwelling	 ﾠsize	 ﾠand	 ﾠmix,	 ﾠtenure	 ﾠand	 ﾠsubsidy.	 ﾠOne	 ﾠof	 ﾠthe	 ﾠimportant	 ﾠfindings	 ﾠis	 ﾠthat	 ﾠmany	 ﾠimportant	 ﾠqualitative	 ﾠobjectives	 ﾠtended	 ﾠto	 ﾠbe	 ﾠsacrificed	 ﾠin	 ﾠpursuit	 ﾠof	 ﾠtargets	 ﾠfor	 ﾠsimple	 ﾠnumbers	 ﾠof	 ﾠaffordable	 ﾠhousing	 ﾠunits:	 ﾠ	 ﾠopen	 ﾠspace	 ﾠfor	 ﾠchildren	 ﾠand	 ﾠfor	 ﾠgeneral	 ﾠuse,	 ﾠroom	 ﾠsizes	 ﾠand	 ﾠthe	 ﾠsevere	 ﾠshortages	 ﾠof	 ﾠdwellings	 ﾠfor	 ﾠlarge	 ﾠhouseholds.	 ﾠIt	 ﾠis	 ﾠa	 ﾠvery	 ﾠdetailed	 ﾠdemonstration	 ﾠof	 ﾠhow,	 ﾠin	 ﾠthe	 ﾠBritish	 ﾠplanning	 ﾠsystem,	 ﾠeven	 ﾠthe	 ﾠfirmest	 ﾠpolicy	 ﾠcommitments	 ﾠcan	 ﾠbe	 ﾠsacrificed	 ﾠto	 ﾠconsiderations	 ﾠof	 ﾠ'viability'	 ﾠand	 ﾠ'other	 ﾠmaterial	 ﾠconsiderations'.	 ﾠThere	 ﾠare	 ﾠlots	 ﾠof	 ﾠthings	 ﾠthis	 ﾠbook	 ﾠdoes	 ﾠnot	 ﾠattempt	 ﾠto	 ﾠdeal	 ﾠwith,	 ﾠnotably	 ﾠthe	 ﾠgreat	 ﾠsuccesses	 ﾠof	 ﾠthe	 ﾠLivingstone	 ﾠadministration	 ﾠin	 ﾠreversing	 ﾠthe	 ﾠdecline	 ﾠof	 ﾠLondon	 ﾠpublic	 ﾠtransport	 ﾠand	 ﾠimplementing	 ﾠthe	 ﾠcongestion	 ﾠcharge	 ﾠas	 ﾠa	 ﾠkey	 ﾠpart	 ﾠof	 ﾠthat	 ﾠstrategy.	 ﾠ	 ﾠThat	 ﾠprobably	 ﾠneeds	 ﾠanother	 ﾠbook.	 ﾠThis	 ﾠbook	 ﾠis	 ﾠa	 ﾠcritical	 ﾠevaluation	 ﾠof	 ﾠthe	 ﾠhousing	 ﾠachievements	 ﾠand	 ﾠfailures	 ﾠof	 ﾠthe	 ﾠKen	 ﾠLivingstone	 ﾠregime	 ﾠwithin	 ﾠits	 ﾠFaustian	 ﾠpact	 ﾠwith	 ﾠCity	 ﾠfinancial	 ﾠand	 ﾠproperty	 ﾠinterests.	 ﾠ	 ﾠThe	 ﾠmarket	 ﾠnever	 ﾠwas	 ﾠgoing	 ﾠto	 ﾠmeet	 ﾠsocial	 ﾠneeds,	 ﾠbut	 ﾠheroic	 ﾠand	 ﾠsophisticated	 ﾠefforts	 ﾠwere	 ﾠmade	 ﾠto	 ﾠharness	 ﾠthe	 ﾠspeculative	 ﾠboom	 ﾠand	 ﾠthe	 ﾠachievements	 ﾠwere	 ﾠsubstantial.	 ﾠDo	 ﾠread	 ﾠit.	 ﾠMichael	 ﾠEdwards,	 ﾠBartlett	 ﾠSchool	 ﾠof	 ﾠPlanning,	 ﾠUCL	 ﾠ

Duncan Bowie, Politics, Planning and Homes in a World City, Routledge, paperback ISBN 9780415486378

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