The aim of the module is to explore the nature of housing inequalities in the UK, the impacts of such inequalities on people and places and to critically analyse the role of public policy in creating and addressing housing inequalities.

Throughout the module the focus is the UK housing system through the lens of people, places and policies. It will explore how individuals and households experience housing inequalities; the socio-spatial patterning of housing availability and how such inequalities and patterns shape the ways in which places and communities are built or destroyed. Threaded throughout these themes will be a critical analysis of the way in which housing, planning and other public policies attempt to address or even create housing inequality.

• Understand how people experience of housing inequality and identify the winners and losers
• Explain the socio-spatial differences in housing availability and analyse how inequalities impact on the construction and destruction of communities
• Critically examine public policies relevant to housing and analyse how they seek to create and ameliorate housing inequalities

The module will be through a series of lectures that will be organised around three core themes of the module: unequal access, place and inequality and people. This will be supported by a one-day field study visit to London where students will be able to see evidence of the impacts of housing inequality.

• Effective time-management in preparing for involvement in seminars and meeting coursework submission deadlines.
• Effective communication for the exchange and sharing knowledge and ideas via group discussions, written work and the poster presentation.
• Ability to synthesise ideas and write clearly and effectively.

The module will be assessed through two pieces of coursework, a 2,000 word essay and poster which will be presented to an invited audience. The essay will assess students’ understanding of the concept of inequality and the broad socio-spatial impacts of housing inequality. The poster and presentation will enable students to demonstrate fa deeper understanding of the housing inequalities faced by a particular group with society and critique the policies adopted to address those inequalities.

Type of assessment

%

Contribution

Title

Duration
(if applicable)

Approx. date of Assessment

Essay

50%

2000 words

Spring semester

Poster and Presentation

50%

N/A

Spring Semester

The opportunity for reassessment in this module

Students are permitted to be reassessed in a module which they have failed, in line with the course regulations. The reassessment will usually take place during the summer.

The module begins by defining key terms, including inequality and tenure, and exploring the extent and nature of housing inequality in the UK. The focus will be on the UK but examples from other countries will be introduced where appropriate. Remaining lectures are then organised around three major themes: unequal access, place and inequality and people. Below is an indication of some of the topics that will be explored within each theme:

Unequal access:

• Barriers to access across all tenures
• Housing need and demand
• Financing housing
• Choice and lifestyle
• Policy responses to unequal access, e.g. investment, affordability and welfare benefits

Place and inequality

• Attachment to place, meaning of home and sense of community
• Poor quality housing
• Regeneration, mixed communities
• Policy response to place and inequality

People

This section will concentrate on the housing inequalities faced by different groups in society, e.g. ethnic minorities, young people, homeless people, migrants, disabled people, women.

Anderson, I and Sim, D (2011) Housing and Inequality Coventry: CIH

Barker, K. (2004) Review of Housing Supply: Delivering stability, securing our future housing needs Final Report – Recommendations. London: HM Treasury.

Barker, K (2014) Housing: Where’s the plan? London: London Publishing Partnership

Bramley, G., M. Munro and H. Pawson (2004) Key Issues in Housing: policies and markets in 21^st-century Britain. Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan

Dorling, D (2011) Injustice: Why social inequality persists Bristol: Policy Press

Gallent, N. and M. Tewdwr-Jones (2006) Decent Homes for All: Planning’s evolving role in housing provision, London: Routledge.

Hills, J (2015) Good Times, Bad Times: The welfare myth of them and us Bristol: Policy Press

Malpass, P. (2005) Housing and the Welfare State: the development of housing policy in Britain. Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan

Mullins, D. and A. Murie (2006) Housing Policy in the UK, Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan.