Where has social housing gone? Politics, housing need and social housing construction in England

Abstract

This paper focuses on the changing geography of social housing supply in England since the passing of the 1988 Housing Act. This Act marked a key transition point in national housing policy, as it transferred primary responsibility for social housing provision from local authorities to housing associations. Examining construction rates for every lower‐tier local authority in the nation, the question asked is whether this shift was accompanied by a new geography of social housing completions. In particular, the paper asks whether there has been a weakening of the impact of local party control and housing need in building rates. The answer on political party effects is that the Act has not had this effect, principally because there was little by way of notable political party inputs in dwelling construction by the mid 1980s. As regards responsiveness to housing needs, it is concluded that (geographically) this has strengthened since the 1988 Act was passed. Drawing on interviews with executives in housing associations and local authorities, the paper explores why these changes have occurred.