EUKN - United Kingdom - Evaluation of English housing policy 1975

Evaluation of English housing policy 1975–2000: widening choice

Introduction

Considers the policy drivers, aims, operation and evaluation of widening access to owner-occupation.

Description

This report:

looks at the policy drivers, aims, operation and evaluation of widening access to owner-occupation, for facilitating mobility, increasing choice within the social rented sector, and for increasing choice for black and minority ethnic households;
indicates that while the policy goal of extending access to owner-occupation particularly through Right to Buy has been a success and that choices within owner-occupation have increased, new building has failed to keep pace with growing demand for homes.

Background information

The evaluation was undertaken to examine the degree to which English housing policy during 1975–2000 has widened or increased the choices accessible to British households since 1975. It is the fourth of five reports which evaluate housing policy within this period. Widening choice was selected as a theme because policy documents indicated that it was an on-going and important goal throughout the study period.

Methodology

The research involved an examination of the policy drivers, policy aims, policy operation and policy evaluation across areas of:

tenure choice (increasing owner occupation);
assisting mobility;
increasing choice within social rented housing; and
increasing choice for black and minority ethnic households.

This was achieved by means of a thorough analysis of existing research and policy evaluation, including ‘beacon’ and ‘secondary’ policies.

Conclusions

This report:

concludes that the policy goal of widening access to owner-occupation, especially through the Right to Buy, has been successful and that the transformation of the tenure structure to accomplish mass home ownership is one of the most striking changes of the period;
concludes that there is greater choice in the housing system for the broad middle-mass of the population.
notes that there have been problems, including the fact that new building has not kept pace with increasing demands for houses and that the development of a residualised social-rented sector has led to serious consequences for the development and maintenance of sustainable communities in some areas.

Contact info

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
Phone: +44 20 7944 4400
enquiryodpm@odpm.gsi.gov.uk

Publication date

01/01/2005

Project finished

Researcher

Moira Munro, Hal Pawson and Sarah Monk

Links

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (now Department for Communities and Local Government)

Evaluation of English housing policy 1975–2000: widening choice (PDF, Eng, 521KB)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy > Housing > Housing policy

Keywords

Housing market