Target the over 55s to ease the housing crisis

This article argues that a good, effective and sustainable way to ease the 2020s housing trap, is to build up to two million homes for the +55 year olds throughout England. Not especially targeting the 15 per cent richest, nor for the 15 per cent poorest, but targeting the remaining two thirds 55+ year old mid-income households. The 2020s housing trap is not unique to the four nations of the UK.

My proposal, is to build up to one million council and housing association apartments for the +55 year olds, 9 in 10 with one bedroom, during the next 10-15 years. To allow for a significant proportion of the +55 single households to leave their larger council/housing association or privately rented homes. To settle in bespoke apartment complexes reserved for the +55s. With the proposed number of public housing units built annually, equal to 2-3 times as many public housing units built annually c1997-2010.

The 55+ housing communities advocated above are for the 'younger' elderly, mostly moving house in their early or late 60s. Where the housing communities are self supporting. Where the social benefits of having several dozens 55+ year olds within one medium size community – with their different personalities, skills, experiences – is invaluable. For the individuals, the community, the neighbourhood, and the society at large.

Postscript

Maybe one last key to unlock the 2020s housing trap, is to reform ownership of underused urban land, undeveloped urban land, urban land with absent and/or overseas landowners. To bring back all such land to public ownership – in care of the local authority, Homes England, the county council or regional authority/mayor – with apx one third each. 

• Target the over 55s to ease the housing crisis pfd 2p
• Planning in London

Illustrated London Picture Atlas

Illustrated London Picture Atlas_ During the last two years, we've prepared a medium size book on London that combined photos and text, and that covered both the outer and inner boroughs of the capital in equal measure...  

It is a draft illustrated picture book on the social, geographic, urbanism, transport & history of the 32 London boroughs. The latest version has 60 double pages with two thirds photos and one third text. Each double page contains half a dozen illustrations, each accompanied by a short story or text, present or historic. With an encyclopaedic introduction or summery per double page. 

The latest draft presents all outer and inner boroughs, the former typically on one double page, and the latter on one, two or three double pages respectively. Due to the very rich history of the eleven inner boroughs, focus is typically more on pre 1800 & post 1900.

The publication of the book will take some time, as there are 350 photos that need accreditation. An earlier draft also included about thirty thematic double pages on: history & society, work & leisure, built places & institutions.

Please get in touch if you can contribute in any way, or wish to know more.

• Two SW Inner Boroughs 4p revised PDF

2024/25_ The winter season in Sydney and Macaronesia is proving more complex that usual. I typically cycle a long day trip bi/weekly, jog bi/weekly along the beach, and swim 2 to 6 times weekly, frequently in the ocean. I've achieved four records last summer; cycled 75 km from Barnstaple via Exmoor to Bridgwater; 100 km in a day along Elbe; crawled 1.5k in 45min nonstop at LFL; and swam 1.1k in 45min nonstop in a lake.