History of Social Housing
Social housing became widespread across Europe and North America throughout the 1980s due to a need for housing, affordable for those with a median household income (Bhatta and Basudeb, 2010). However, the construction of these large housing estates began during the post-war era where there were calls for solutions to chronic housing shortages. When they were developed in the so-called heyday of Utopian thinking, the estates were 'the product of idealistic thoughts, futuristic views and great expectations' (Wassenberg, 2004:224).
In the UK, this applies to socially rented and intermediate housing provided to 'specified eligible households whose needs are not met by the market' (UK Govt, 2006:9). Housing estates, built in the open in new garden cities, were designed to provide healthy housing with light, air and space (Le Corbusier, 1987). The ideas Le Corbusier presented in the CIAM reunions, stated that new urban solutions needed to be constructed from zero and not over the old structure that was the traditional city (Jorge, 2011).
Social housing became widespread across Europe and North America throughout the 1980s due to a need for housing, affordable for those with a median household income (Bhatta and Basudeb, 2010). However, the construction of these large housing estates began during the post-war era where there were calls for solutions to chronic housing shortages. When they were developed in the so-called heyday of Utopian thinking, the estates were 'the product of idealistic thoughts, futuristic views and great expectations' (Wassenberg, 2004:224).
In the UK, this applies to socially rented and intermediate housing provided to 'specified eligible households whose needs are not met by the market' (UK Govt, 2006:9). Housing estates, built in the open in new garden cities, were designed to provide healthy housing with light, air and space (Le Corbusier, 1987). The ideas Le Corbusier presented in the CIAM reunions, stated that new urban solutions needed to be constructed from zero and not over the old structure that was the traditional city (Jorge, 2011).
Le Corbusier believed that by building in the open we could
replace the present disorganised arrangements with a uniform and repetitive layout. The result of this is a creation of standards by which the
building of housing can be industrialised, causing a massive reduction in costs, in turn making housing more affordable. The idea of uniformity is one which
many writers commented on in relation to an apparent ideology of planning in
the post-war years (Goodchild and Cole, 2001). These ideologies provided a
community and neighbourhood in addition to neatness, tidiness and good
health.
One of the negative characteristics of the post-war proliferation of large housing estates is that these areas lack imageability and identity (Wassenberg, 2004). This produces a fragmented view of the areas, where inhabitants might have a different image of the area than people from the outside (Dean and Hastings, 2000). While the internal view is based on the physical and social characteristics of the area, the external view is based simply on stereotypes. This leads to a number of problems, most notably a low demand for housing, high turnover rates, a lack of knowledge of the area and a potential stigma.
One of the negative characteristics of the post-war proliferation of large housing estates is that these areas lack imageability and identity (Wassenberg, 2004). This produces a fragmented view of the areas, where inhabitants might have a different image of the area than people from the outside (Dean and Hastings, 2000). While the internal view is based on the physical and social characteristics of the area, the external view is based simply on stereotypes. This leads to a number of problems, most notably a low demand for housing, high turnover rates, a lack of knowledge of the area and a potential stigma.
Stigmatisation is a key problem for social housing and the areas in which they are situated, linked to 'a discourse about social exclusion, the underclass and the residualisation of the public housing sector' (Wassenberg, 2004:227). This residualisation has led to a tendency to house only members of society who are poor, unemployed, in debt or have little choice over where they live due to the financial constraints that they face (Cole & Furbey, 1994). While Le Corbusier's aim was to ensure that new planned residential areas contained a cross section of society and would, as a result, reduce class differences and social antagonisms (Sarkissian, 1976), the actual outcome is a stark contrast with the poorer sections of society taking up social housing, with wealthier members choosing to live elsewhere.
Urban renewal is a central policy across Europe with large housing estates of the 1960s constituting a major share of this renewal burden. Urban regeneration lies through the modernisation or demolition of old estates (Wassenberg, 2004), for example the renovation of the Park Hill Estate in Sheffield. Renewal might also be aimed at the wider surroundings, involving upgrading green space around the residential buildings, or improving important local amenities such as schools, shops and public transport routes. Renewal policies would no doubt aid the residents themselves as it can be said that residents of large social housing estates often suffer from a whole range of personal problems such as inadequate education, unemployment or financial issues.
Urban renewal is a central policy across Europe with large housing estates of the 1960s constituting a major share of this renewal burden. Urban regeneration lies through the modernisation or demolition of old estates (Wassenberg, 2004), for example the renovation of the Park Hill Estate in Sheffield. Renewal might also be aimed at the wider surroundings, involving upgrading green space around the residential buildings, or improving important local amenities such as schools, shops and public transport routes. Renewal policies would no doubt aid the residents themselves as it can be said that residents of large social housing estates often suffer from a whole range of personal problems such as inadequate education, unemployment or financial issues.
Park Hill Estate, Sheffield - built in 1957 Park Hill Estate, Sheffield - renovated in 2010
Social housing has played a large role in Sheffield with residential areas built across the city to provide affordable places to live. In particular the Gleadless Valley and Park Hill estates aim to provide high density accommodation at cheap costs. This follows Le Corbusier’s ideas of building in the open and industrialising the manufacture of housing.