Sharing Space: Urban Design and Social Mixing in Mixed Income New Communities

Abstract

Planning and housing policies in the UK have recently adopted the principle of developing mixed schemes, whereby a mixing of tenures stands in for a mixing of income groups. A series of recent research studies has informed the future production of mixed income new communities. This article draws on these wider studies to consider the issue of social mixing and design within developments in detail. In particular the concept of “tenure blind” development is critically investigated with regard to three mature case studies, combining design analysis with social research. Conclusions are drawn about the dangers of over-specific prescriptions towards design and the continuing relevance of urban design theory.

Keywords:

• Urban design
• mixed tenure
• housing
• social mixing

Acknowledgements

Prof. Nick Bailey led research for the good practice guide with the author, Anna Haworth and Dr Tony Manzi as co-researchers. Dr Primali Paranagamage provided research assistance. The author would like to thank the team for permission to draw on the collective research. Any errors or omissions are the author's own. A version of the paper was presented at the World Schools of Planning Congress in Mexico City in July 2006 and the author would like to thank the discussant and the audience at the workshop for their comments.

Notes

1. Interview with former officer, Tyne and Wear Development Corporation, (September 2005).

2. The Right to Buy refers to a legal statute that permits certain categories of social housing tenants to buy the property they are renting. In Scotland this has been the subject of many legislative changes and at the time of writing, only applies to new tenants.

3. Interview with housing officer, Northern British Housing Association, Hulme (May 2005).