Should Bristol's Housing Go the Yorkshire Dales Way?

south west | media and culture | news report Sunday November 04, 2007 19:03 by Anarchist606 (re-posted by imcvol)

You may have read in the news today some interesting news about houses and prices - really; "...the Yorkshire Dales national park authority is proposing to limit the number of outsiders buying second homes and retirement cottages in the 684 sq miles of the Dales. Under the scheme, which is set to be approved today by the authority's planning committee, virtually all new housing in the area will be reserved for rent or purchase by locals and outsiders taking existing jobs in the area. The restriction will also apply to new conversions of barns and other farm buildings."

So I don't mean to go all Daily Mail on you but I wish to talk about house prices (see for more info http://www.qwghlm.co.uk/other/dailymail.php on Daily Mail obsessions).

While this in itself is not the most major event in history, it does represent something very interesting. Its an admission that the 'free' market cannot deal with that most basic of human need - housing. This plan is being watched with interest by similar minded organisations in Scotland, Wales and even in the South West (Cornwall is interested). Predictably the housing interests have reacted with horror at any messing with their free market; "...the Centre for Economic and Business Research (CEBR) has warned that the proposals could in fact, make the housing shortage worse. They suggest that the plan could slow down the rate of construction in the area and push house prices further out of the reach of local people." It's a pretty bonkers view of capitalism - a world-view that can only be true if first - we let them build lots and lots more houses - and second, the houses they build are not luxury properties beyond the reach of the average person. Which wont happen so their worry is, IMHO, simply scaremongering.

What is also interesting about this story is also that all the places looking at also implementing this idea are rural. Why not in a city? Why not in Bristol? Its the same issue: Take the harbourside developments as an example - they are marketed and advertised nationally. As such non-Bristolian rich people buying them as 'investments' or second homes will be putting pressure on the local housing stock. They are also out of reach of the average person, for example the "refreshing new take on contemporary urban living" aka Crest Nicholson harbourside development has 24 apartments available priced between £151,000 (for Studio Apartment) to £400,000 (for a 2 bedroom penthouse). This avalibility so long after they were completed suggests that the rich local buyers are not there - hence the fact that Crest Nicholson advertised their developments at a National level.

Ultimately all this goes to show the mess the current system of housing is. Want some stability in your life? You have to buy and hope that interest rates don't go bonkers. Can't afford to buy? You're left living in somebody elses investment and at the whim of a 6 Month Assured Short-Hold Tenancy Agreement. Or you can squat, which I admire those who do, but for those with a family, I guess the enhanced uncertainty is hard. If we want secure and safe housing we need to look elsewhere for answers, because today shows all too clearly that the free market has not got them.