Communities and Local Government
A selection of images representing communities.
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- Housing
- Housing supply
- Housing market renewal
- An overview of housing market renewal
An overview of housing market renewal
People living in areas affected by low demand often have limited housing choices.
Their homes are typically valued at prices significantly below local averages, making it difficult to move, even if the home is no longer suitable for their needs. The stock available to them is often unpopular, with high levels of vacancies, and in poor condition. People have found themselves trapped in homes they cannot afford to maintain or improve.
These neighbourhoods have typically experienced long periods of economic decline, as job patterns have shifted and people have moved away to take up new opportunities. Despite being close to within cities where the economy is growing, these neighbourhoods remain disconnected from the new jobs, with residents experiencing low skills levels, worklessness, high levels of crime or fear of crime, and poor facilities.
Examples of housing in pathfinder areas
In 2002 nine such areas were identified by the Government as needing specific housing market renewal support though the pathfinder programme. The pathfinder programme, however, is not just about housing. It is part of a much wider concerted effort to revitalise communities and economies across the North and West Midlands. It is at the heart of efforts to make cities more competitive because we cannot reverse decline and attract skilled workers back to cities unless they offer the quality and choice of housing that people are looking for.
There has been a revival in our towns and cities in recent years and demand for housing in the North has increased. The Government is committed to ensuring that communities beyond the city centres gain from this urban renaissance, and are not left behind as has happened in the past.
Confidence is returning to pathfinder areas. Average house prices have doubled since 2002. However, challenges remain to close the economic and social gap between these areas and those around them.
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