Housing & Neighbourhoods

Housing & Neighbourhoods

Driving healthier, greener and fairer neighbourhoods

The Housing and Neighbourhoods theme examines social, environmental and economic aspects of housing and the places we live. With the climate emergency, one focus is on progress in ‘decarbonising’ heat in housing: are we improving energy efficiency and making the switch to ‘clean’ heating systems fast enough? And who is at risk of being left behind in this transition?

We examine inequalities in energy use and indoor environments: who lives in housing which is too cold in winter or too hot in summer, and what impacts does this have on their health and well-being? What additional health or economic benefits might improvements in dwelling conditions bring?

We study how urban systems are evolving under the impact of a range of social and economic changes. Rising inequality contributed to the gentrification of many inner-city areas in recent years, with higher income households pushing lower income groups out. Will these trends reverse now home or hybrid working enables many of the same higher income groups to live further away from their workplaces? Or will new patterns of urban inequality and displacement emerge instead?

Technology is supporting the growth of the platform economy in the form of short-term rentals. This diverts housing supply to the tourist sector, particularly in many of the inner-city neighbourhoods already affected by gentrification. We study the neighbourhood changes which result but also the impacts of Government attempts at regulation.