As the Planning & Infrastructure Bill enters its final stages in Parliament, and the UK Government has made the finishing touches to its plan to build 1.5 million new homes before the next election, we ought to take stock of how the public understand the housing crisis and what, if anything, should be done.
Much of the debate around housing has centred on the so-called “YIMBY-NIMBY divide”, with the former tending to characterise the latter as being selfish and narrow-minded. The inconvenient reality for the government is that this debate exists in an entirely separate space from the rest of the public. Britons tend to understand both housing and nature on a local level, and the government’s housing targets register as a poorly thought out intrusion on their neighbourhoods and green spaces.
Building more homes does not have to come at such a high political cost. The general public would be far more amenable to seeing new developments in their area if they can see that they are being built with care, and if they are convinced by the government’s argument that economic growth will make a tangible benefit to their lives. As it stands, Britons’ attitudes towards growth are lukewarm and uncertain - they do not see why they should have to make sacrifices in order to achieve it, and reject the idea that nature is an impediment to growth. The government must articulate a more compelling story on the benefits of economic growth that can be felt by the general public, not just by big business and developers.
“I find the quality of new builds… people in different aspects of the industry, they always said just never buy a new build. I say, well, why are they here if they have a snag list as long as you can even imagine?”
Daniel, IT Manager, Basingstoke
The quality of new build developments has to improve if the public are to get on board with the government’s aims. Developers are thought to care about profit more than building homes which are suitable for both the people who will end up living in them, and the existing residents around them. Britons believe that new homes are being built without new infrastructure to support them, without wildlife and green spaces in or around them, with shoddy construction, before being sold at exorbitant prices. This perception is a significant obstacle for public support behind accelerating housebuilding, as the public feel underserved by existing policy in this respect, and would welcome a politician who more clearly expresses the view that development should embrace - not destroy - the natural world.
“We have lots of green spaces in Milton Keynes, but they're in the estates that have been established for the last 30 or 40 years. And you notice the difference in the new estates that they don't have the green spaces anymore… now when they're building the newer estates, that community hub is no longer there. So from that point of view of protecting the green space, they're just not making them anymore.”
Rebecca, Retired, Milton Keynes North
“Protecting nature” is not just an excuse for “NIMBYs” to block new development in their area. Britons intuitively appreciate the benefits of having green spaces and natural wildlife around them - to physical and mental health, to sustainability, and to a sense of community. New homes which lack opportunities for their residents to access nature are seen to be squalid, lifeless and the source of various social ills that people can notice in their area. That existing residents might have to lose access to wildlife and their own green spaces to make way for these developments is seen as a kick in the teeth.
“I think it's very easy for someone [local MP] who has this big job in London and might not live in the direct vicinity to go, yeah, sure you build, but actually is it in his backyard? Where does he live?”
Elizabeth, Childminder, Milton Keynes North
From the government’s perspective, their housebuilding targets can still be achieved in a manner which is far less divisive if they are willing to lend an ear to these concerns. Developing with care is not a novel idea for Britons - in focus groups, they spoke about what developments from twenty years ago had which current ones do not - and the government would do well to hear their concerns if it wants its planning and infrastructure agenda to be successful.