The Formulation of Local Housing Strategies: A Critical Evaluation

Housing provision is a major dilemma for local authorities. There is currently a huge demand for more housing, while increasing environmental, economic and political pressures must be considered when local authorities develop their policies. This remarkable volume investigates how local authorities formulate their housing strategies. It questions whether the local authority can be seen as a single entity in terms of housing or whether it is fragmented into separate departments. Incorporating in-depth empirical research from England and Wales, the book discusses whether the process of developing housing policy and allocating land needs to be more integrated, and whether key players such as speculative house-builders should be involved in the development of policy. Analyzing which information sources influence the local authority’s land allocations and housing strategies, the volume debates whether they provide the most useful data and suggests alternative information sources that may assist in better land allocation policies.

Table of Contents:
Contents: Introduction; Housing supply and the housing market; Demand for housing; The development of local authority housing strategies and joint housing studies; Indicators of housing demand; The use of data by local authorities in England and Wales; Housing strategy development at the local level; Concluding comments; Bibliography.

Review :
’There is a growing realization that in order to develop effective housing strategies local authorities, in their enabling role, need to understand the housing market in which they operate. This book provides an excellent analysis of the extent to which local housing strategies take account of local housing markets, together with an examination of the inter-relationships between housing and planning departments in devising and implementing such strategies. With its examination of current trends in private sector house building, it will be of great interest to academics and practitioners concerned with this vital area of contemporary policy.’ Alan Hooper, Professor of Housing and Planning, Cardiff University, UK 'An excellent analysis gives perspective for rational sustainable housing policies.' Built Environment 'Chris Nicol's new book is a clearly written guide to many of the conceptual and practical matters associated with the formularation of housing strategies within the English context...therefore a useful practical guide that can inform officers embarking on housing stategy development.' Journal of Housing and Built Environment