Friday 13 July 2012
JOB VACANCY: TEACHING ASSOCIATE, TRP UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD
The Department of Town and Regional Planning at the University of Sheffield is advertising a new Teaching Associate (Placements & Employability) post. The post presents an opportunity for a suitably experienced and qualified individual, with an interest in professional development and employability for planning students, to join a lively multi-disciplinary department. Full details can be found at http://www.shef.ac.uk/jobs (search for job reference UOS004840).
NEWS FROM CAMBRIDGE CENTRE FOR HOUSING AND PLANNING RESEARCH
New research publications
Housing in Transition: Understanding the dynamics of tenure change
The Resolution Foundation and Shelter funded CCHPR to examine likely future tenure trends in England ( and London) through to 2025 under three economic scenarios - weak, moderate and robust recoveries. Using Survey of English Housing data, the study looked at the impact on low to middle income households and families with children. The report is posted on the CCHPR site. Taken together with a look back to trends from 1993, in summary, what it showed was the scale of tenure transformation that has taken place so far and will probably take place in the future - especially when you drill down to specific household types and in London. It also pointed up the weakness of taking home ownership as one tenure category rather than broken down into mortgaged and owned outright -these two components have trajectories moving in opposite directions which are obscured by treating them together. The report can be downloaded from www.cchpr.landecon.cam.ac.uk/outputs/detail.asp?OutputID=276
Understanding the second-hand market for shared ownership properties
Around a third of shared ownership market is for second-hand homes, where they new buyer purchases the share from the existing shared owner. This report, commissioned by Thames Valley Housing Association explores the operation of the second-hand market for shared ownership properties. It also examines the practice of ‘staircasing’, whereby a shared owner may purchase additional shares of their home.
It draws on a survey of housing associations, focus groups with shared owners and interviews with mortgage lenders and other stakeholders, this report examines the functioning of the second-hand market for shared ownership homes in England. It can be downloaded from
www.cchpr.landecon.cam.ac.uk/outputs/detail.asp?OutputID=275
Capturing Planning Gain – The Transition from Section 106 to the Community Infrastructure Levy
The Community Infrastructure Levy came into force in April 2010 (DCLG, 2011a). It allows local authorities in England and Wales to raise funds from developers undertaking new building projects in their area and the money can be used to fund a wide range of infrastructure that is needed as a result of development. This research explores the issues arising in the transition to the new system.
The Community Infrastructure Levy, with a scaled back S106, is broadly welcomed by local authorities and most local authorities are planning to introduce a CIL within the next three years. The main finding from the research is that, whilst seen as a positive change, there is still a lot of uncertainty about the CIL – how to develop the evidence base, how to determine an appropriate charging schedule, how to use S106 alongside the CIL and how to collect the CIL funds. The report can be downloaded from www.cchpr.landecon.cam.ac.uk/outputs/detail.asp?OutputID=277
Rural housing at a time of economic change
This research was funded by the Commission for Rural Communities in order to improve understanding of likely future changes in housing markets in rural areas in England in the wider context of changing housing market pressures and government policies on affordable housing and Housing Benefit. It aimed to provide up-to-date evidence to enable CRC, Defra and other government agencies to influence housing policy at national and local levels and ensure that these policies are rural-proofed. The research objectives were to develop a new understanding of:
1. The changing levels of rents (both private and social) and the quality and location of available housing.
2. The impact of recent and forthcoming government policies on social and private tenants, including the changes to Housing Benefit and the overall benefit caps.
3. Migration: The numbers of people forced to relocate from rural areas, or unable to live where they would choose to do so
The research aimed to explore differences between rural areas, as well as between rural and urban areas overall and can be downloaded here: www.cchpr.landecon.cam.ac.uk/outputs/detail.asp?OutputID=274
The Resolution Foundation and Shelter funded CCHPR to examine likely future tenure trends in England ( and London) through to 2025 under three economic scenarios - weak, moderate and robust recoveries. Using Survey of English Housing data, the study looked at the impact on low to middle income households and families with children. The report is posted on the CCHPR site. Taken together with a look back to trends from 1993, in summary, what it showed was the scale of tenure transformation that has taken place so far and will probably take place in the future - especially when you drill down to specific household types and in London. It also pointed up the weakness of taking home ownership as one tenure category rather than broken down into mortgaged and owned outright -these two components have trajectories moving in opposite directions which are obscured by treating them together. The report can be downloaded from www.cchpr.landecon.cam.ac.uk/outputs/detail.asp?OutputID=276
Understanding the second-hand market for shared ownership properties
Around a third of shared ownership market is for second-hand homes, where they new buyer purchases the share from the existing shared owner. This report, commissioned by Thames Valley Housing Association explores the operation of the second-hand market for shared ownership properties. It also examines the practice of ‘staircasing’, whereby a shared owner may purchase additional shares of their home.
It draws on a survey of housing associations, focus groups with shared owners and interviews with mortgage lenders and other stakeholders, this report examines the functioning of the second-hand market for shared ownership homes in England. It can be downloaded from
www.cchpr.landecon.cam.ac.uk/outputs/detail.asp?OutputID=275
Capturing Planning Gain – The Transition from Section 106 to the Community Infrastructure Levy
The Community Infrastructure Levy came into force in April 2010 (DCLG, 2011a). It allows local authorities in England and Wales to raise funds from developers undertaking new building projects in their area and the money can be used to fund a wide range of infrastructure that is needed as a result of development. This research explores the issues arising in the transition to the new system.
The Community Infrastructure Levy, with a scaled back S106, is broadly welcomed by local authorities and most local authorities are planning to introduce a CIL within the next three years. The main finding from the research is that, whilst seen as a positive change, there is still a lot of uncertainty about the CIL – how to develop the evidence base, how to determine an appropriate charging schedule, how to use S106 alongside the CIL and how to collect the CIL funds. The report can be downloaded from www.cchpr.landecon.cam.ac.uk/outputs/detail.asp?OutputID=277
Rural housing at a time of economic change
This research was funded by the Commission for Rural Communities in order to improve understanding of likely future changes in housing markets in rural areas in England in the wider context of changing housing market pressures and government policies on affordable housing and Housing Benefit. It aimed to provide up-to-date evidence to enable CRC, Defra and other government agencies to influence housing policy at national and local levels and ensure that these policies are rural-proofed. The research objectives were to develop a new understanding of:
1. The changing levels of rents (both private and social) and the quality and location of available housing.
2. The impact of recent and forthcoming government policies on social and private tenants, including the changes to Housing Benefit and the overall benefit caps.
3. Migration: The numbers of people forced to relocate from rural areas, or unable to live where they would choose to do so
The research aimed to explore differences between rural areas, as well as between rural and urban areas overall and can be downloaded here: www.cchpr.landecon.cam.ac.uk/outputs/detail.asp?OutputID=274
Other News
CCHPR presentation at the Housing Statistics Network Social Housing Statistics Seminar
Dr Connie Tang and Professor Christine Whitehead were invited to give a presentation at the HSN Social Housing Statistics Seminar. In the first part of the presentation, Connie gave a brief overview of the recent policy changes in social housing and the collection of housing statistics, and described some CCHPR projects on how these changes affected the social housing sector. Christine then outlined the future policy analyses on impact of localism on social housing and the data requirements to support the new agenda.
Dr Connie Tang and Professor Christine Whitehead were invited to give a presentation at the HSN Social Housing Statistics Seminar. In the first part of the presentation, Connie gave a brief overview of the recent policy changes in social housing and the collection of housing statistics, and described some CCHPR projects on how these changes affected the social housing sector. Christine then outlined the future policy analyses on impact of localism on social housing and the data requirements to support the new agenda.
NEWS FROM INSTITUTE FOR HOUSING, URBAN AND REAL ESTATE RESEARCH (IHURER)
IHURER has recently made two new senior appointments: Mark Stephens and Chris Leishman. Mark Stephens has been appointed Professor of Public Policy. Specialising in housing market volatility, housing, welfare states and poverty, and comparative analysis, he will remain an Editor of Urban Studies. Mark’s recent activities included a visit to the Department of Urban Planning and Design, Hong Kong University where he gave a public lecture on “Housing Poverty and Income Poverty”. As Academic Adviser to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s Housing Market Taskforce, he was a speaker at the launch of the Cecodhas campaign “For economic growth and stability: affordable housing wanted!”, alongside Andor Laszlo, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion. Mark is currently working with Kenneth Gibb (Glasgow) and Duncan Maclennan (St Andrews) on a project relating to finance for affordable housing for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Professor Chris Leishman has also moved from the University of Glasgow to IHURER. In his role as Professor of Housing Economics. Chris intends to build on his recent work modelling macro, regional and local housing markets, and developing ‘client friendly’ simulation models. He also intends to launch a housing market forecasting unit in the near future, aimed primarily at the expansion of good quality housing statistics, forecasts and intelligence to counter the reduction in research and statistical reporting capacity in the housing sector in recent years. He will continue in his role as joint Managing Editor of Housing Studies.
Professor Suzanne Fitzpatrick has recently returned from a three week visit to Australia, where she made research presentations to academic and policy audiences in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. She attended the AHURI/RMIT University National Homelessness Research Conference (19-20th April), where she gave papers on ‘Human Rights, Legal Rights and Homelessness’, and on ‘The Homelessness Consequences of Economic Recession and Policy Reform in England’ (the latter jointly with Hal Pawson). Suzanne also participated in the closing panel discussion at the conference, alongside Professor Dennis Culhane, from the University of Pennsylvania, and a range of leading figures in homelessness research in Australia. Other papers given by Professor Fitzpatrick during her visit included ‘Homelessness as Multiple Exclusion: Implications for Prevention and Service Delivery’ (University of Queensland/Queensland Government), ‘Housing First in Europe’ (University of New South Wales/Mercy Foundation), and ‘Preventing and Addressing Homelessness: A European Perspective’ (Homelessness New South Wales Providers Forum).
The LankellyChase Foundation has appointed IHURER to compile the UK’s first profile of severe and multiple disadvantage. This project focuses on people at the very sharpest end of interlocking disadvantages – such as homelessness, drug and alcohol misuse, poor mental health, and involvement with the criminal justice system. Coordinated and well-targeted responses to this group require a robust evidence base, however data underpinning social policy for those on the extreme margins has tended to be patchy and fragmented to date. By bringing together all of the available data into an integrated profile, the project seeks to provide policy makers, practitioners and other key audiences with a user-friendly resource that will allow them to understand the scale and nature of the issues facing the UK’s most marginalised people. They will also be able to identify key trends and concerns as they emerge, and to develop strategies to address these concerns. This 12 month project commenced on 1 June 2012, and is led by Professors Suzanne Fitzpatrick and Glen Bramley.
The first edition of the national ‘Homelessness Monitor’ for England, funded by Crisis and undertaken by IHURER and University of York, was published in autumn last year, attracting considerable press attention in the UK. Crisis have now extended this project to cover Wales and Scotland, and all three 2012 Homelessness Monitors (and a Great Britain summary) will be published in autumn this year.
Dr Sarah Johnsen and Prof Suzanne Fitzpatrick, together with Anwen Jones (York), have recently begun an evaluation of ‘reconnections’ schemes for rough sleepers in England. The study is funded by Crisis and will explore both the effectiveness and ethicality of reconnection approaches.
Professors Hal Pawson (IHURER) and Steve Wilcox (York) continue to work on the UK Housing Review. The 2012 edition is already available, while the 2012 mid-year briefing will shortly be available on: http://www.york.ac.uk/res/ukhr/ukhr1112/index.htm and http://www.york.ac.uk/res/ukhr/ukhr1112/briefingpaper2011.htm
Professor Colin Jones and Dr Neil Dunse are editors, along with Michael White (Nottingham Trent) of "Challenges of the Housing Economy: An International Perspective" (Wiley-Blackwell, April 2012). It features chapters on the housing market experiences of Australia, China, Denmark, Germany, Japan, Spain, the UK and USA looking at long term trends and issues, and the impact and responses to the international financial crisis. These chapters are written by academics from the respective countries. There are also chapters that examine the international evolution of social housing and the private rented sector.
A number of PhD opportunities are being offered in Heriot-Watt University’s School of the Built Environment (closing date 31 July). For details see: http://www.sbe.hw.ac.uk/research/postgraduate/opportunities/july-sbe-research-scholarships.htm
Professor Chris Leishman has also moved from the University of Glasgow to IHURER. In his role as Professor of Housing Economics. Chris intends to build on his recent work modelling macro, regional and local housing markets, and developing ‘client friendly’ simulation models. He also intends to launch a housing market forecasting unit in the near future, aimed primarily at the expansion of good quality housing statistics, forecasts and intelligence to counter the reduction in research and statistical reporting capacity in the housing sector in recent years. He will continue in his role as joint Managing Editor of Housing Studies.
Professor Suzanne Fitzpatrick has recently returned from a three week visit to Australia, where she made research presentations to academic and policy audiences in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. She attended the AHURI/RMIT University National Homelessness Research Conference (19-20th April), where she gave papers on ‘Human Rights, Legal Rights and Homelessness’, and on ‘The Homelessness Consequences of Economic Recession and Policy Reform in England’ (the latter jointly with Hal Pawson). Suzanne also participated in the closing panel discussion at the conference, alongside Professor Dennis Culhane, from the University of Pennsylvania, and a range of leading figures in homelessness research in Australia. Other papers given by Professor Fitzpatrick during her visit included ‘Homelessness as Multiple Exclusion: Implications for Prevention and Service Delivery’ (University of Queensland/Queensland Government), ‘Housing First in Europe’ (University of New South Wales/Mercy Foundation), and ‘Preventing and Addressing Homelessness: A European Perspective’ (Homelessness New South Wales Providers Forum).
The LankellyChase Foundation has appointed IHURER to compile the UK’s first profile of severe and multiple disadvantage. This project focuses on people at the very sharpest end of interlocking disadvantages – such as homelessness, drug and alcohol misuse, poor mental health, and involvement with the criminal justice system. Coordinated and well-targeted responses to this group require a robust evidence base, however data underpinning social policy for those on the extreme margins has tended to be patchy and fragmented to date. By bringing together all of the available data into an integrated profile, the project seeks to provide policy makers, practitioners and other key audiences with a user-friendly resource that will allow them to understand the scale and nature of the issues facing the UK’s most marginalised people. They will also be able to identify key trends and concerns as they emerge, and to develop strategies to address these concerns. This 12 month project commenced on 1 June 2012, and is led by Professors Suzanne Fitzpatrick and Glen Bramley.
The first edition of the national ‘Homelessness Monitor’ for England, funded by Crisis and undertaken by IHURER and University of York, was published in autumn last year, attracting considerable press attention in the UK. Crisis have now extended this project to cover Wales and Scotland, and all three 2012 Homelessness Monitors (and a Great Britain summary) will be published in autumn this year.
Dr Sarah Johnsen and Prof Suzanne Fitzpatrick, together with Anwen Jones (York), have recently begun an evaluation of ‘reconnections’ schemes for rough sleepers in England. The study is funded by Crisis and will explore both the effectiveness and ethicality of reconnection approaches.
Professors Hal Pawson (IHURER) and Steve Wilcox (York) continue to work on the UK Housing Review. The 2012 edition is already available, while the 2012 mid-year briefing will shortly be available on: http://www.york.ac.uk/res/ukhr/ukhr1112/index.htm and http://www.york.ac.uk/res/ukhr/ukhr1112/briefingpaper2011.htm
Professor Colin Jones and Dr Neil Dunse are editors, along with Michael White (Nottingham Trent) of "Challenges of the Housing Economy: An International Perspective" (Wiley-Blackwell, April 2012). It features chapters on the housing market experiences of Australia, China, Denmark, Germany, Japan, Spain, the UK and USA looking at long term trends and issues, and the impact and responses to the international financial crisis. These chapters are written by academics from the respective countries. There are also chapters that examine the international evolution of social housing and the private rented sector.
A number of PhD opportunities are being offered in Heriot-Watt University’s School of the Built Environment (closing date 31 July). For details see: http://www.sbe.hw.ac.uk/research/postgraduate/opportunities/july-sbe-research-scholarships.htm
MIND THE (HOUSING) WEALTH GAP
A new 3 year study into housing inequalities in society was launched in July.
The £0.7m project, led by Dr Beverley Searle of the Centre for Housing Research at the University of St Andrews will investigate the growing gaps in housing wealth and their consequences for the social and economic wellbeing of families in Britain. Dr Searle, alongside colleagues from St Andrews, Birmingham and Durham Universities, will look at issues such as the changing patterns of family wealth, the ageing population and the difficulties younger people face in accessing housing. They argue that present Government housing policies leave families exposed and vulnerable. The project will look at the causes and consequences of housing wealth gaps across generations and the implications for long term policy change in Britain and beyond.
The project, ‘Mind the (Housing) Wealth Gap: Inter-generational Justice and Family Welfare’, is funded by the Leverhulme Trust. The three-year study will explore inequalities in society and look at issues such as the transfer of family wealth across generations, which is of growing political and social importance. Dr Searle commented, “It is often assumed that people who own their own property have the financial means to support themselves and their families. But as we have recently seen, and not for the first time, the housing market can fall rapidly. This leaves families exposed and vulnerable at a time when they may be in most need of a financial safety net. Many home owners struggle to get by, whilst those who rent and have no housing wealth are at a disadvantage.”
The project launch was backed by Kate Barker, author of the Barker review of UK housing supply. She said, “Understanding the future patterns and uses of housing wealth in Britain will be at the core of shaping not only recovery in housing opportunities for the young but also the ways in which the nation copes with ageing. The present government has so far failed to improve on the record of its predecessors in delivering effective housing market outcomes. Present policy arrangements fail to grapple with market realities and their consequences for young and old; and may reinforce the significant housing wealth gaps. These gaps result in unjust outcomes now and in the future”.
For more information visit the project website: www.st-andrews.ac.uk/wealthgap
The £0.7m project, led by Dr Beverley Searle of the Centre for Housing Research at the University of St Andrews will investigate the growing gaps in housing wealth and their consequences for the social and economic wellbeing of families in Britain. Dr Searle, alongside colleagues from St Andrews, Birmingham and Durham Universities, will look at issues such as the changing patterns of family wealth, the ageing population and the difficulties younger people face in accessing housing. They argue that present Government housing policies leave families exposed and vulnerable. The project will look at the causes and consequences of housing wealth gaps across generations and the implications for long term policy change in Britain and beyond.
The project, ‘Mind the (Housing) Wealth Gap: Inter-generational Justice and Family Welfare’, is funded by the Leverhulme Trust. The three-year study will explore inequalities in society and look at issues such as the transfer of family wealth across generations, which is of growing political and social importance. Dr Searle commented, “It is often assumed that people who own their own property have the financial means to support themselves and their families. But as we have recently seen, and not for the first time, the housing market can fall rapidly. This leaves families exposed and vulnerable at a time when they may be in most need of a financial safety net. Many home owners struggle to get by, whilst those who rent and have no housing wealth are at a disadvantage.”
The project launch was backed by Kate Barker, author of the Barker review of UK housing supply. She said, “Understanding the future patterns and uses of housing wealth in Britain will be at the core of shaping not only recovery in housing opportunities for the young but also the ways in which the nation copes with ageing. The present government has so far failed to improve on the record of its predecessors in delivering effective housing market outcomes. Present policy arrangements fail to grapple with market realities and their consequences for young and old; and may reinforce the significant housing wealth gaps. These gaps result in unjust outcomes now and in the future”.
For more information visit the project website: www.st-andrews.ac.uk/wealthgap
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