The Involvement of Government in Housing Policy - Essay Example

What ideas underpinned housing policy between 1945 and 1979? Table of Contents Introduction 3 Discussion 3 Conclusion 8 References 10 Introduction The action taken by government to achieve the objectives of housing is known as housing policy. The procedure of involvement in state intervention in the housing sector is pivotal area of concern for housing policy. Housing objectives comprise of dealing with homelessness or enhancement in the quality of houses. The involvement of government in the housing department is also defined as housing policy. During the nineteenth century, major demographic changes have been witnessed by United Kingdom. The overall population of Britain has observed enormous growth. By the end of the century, there was massive development of the country from rural to urban society. From the period of 1945, there was substantial overhaul of residential dwellings. This influenced government of UK to look after the price, ownership and quality of residential market. After 1945, the dependence on local authorities has been increased by both conservative and labour government. 5 million households and more are accommodated with the help of social housing. After World War II, the instruments and priorities of housing policy has seen a drastic change. This essay will effectively discuss about various ideas of Housing Policy in UK that underpinned from 1945 to 1979. Discussion One billion people are still living in undesirable condition and lack shelter due to poverty. The majority of people who are lacking shelter are from developed countries. This resembles the necessity of effective housing policies to provide adequate shelter. After World War II, the economic condition of United Kingdom was totally shattered. During the year 1945, wartime union government was exhausted after the withdrawal of labour party. This eventually forced in to general election. The attitude of people has seen drastic changes. Government intervention has been increased. The adverse impact of war created a need of house. Massive number of houses has been destroyed through bombing. Under these circumstances, it required a huge overhaul on housing policy in UK. After 1945, the advancement of public housing was due to the commitment of government. Housing policy before 1945 has been stepping stone for the emergence of future housing policies. In 19th century, sanitation policies have been implemented. Social disintegration and increase in rate of widespread disease has been the pivotal factor for the application of sanitation policies. In 20th century, the sanitation polices has been key influence for the occurrence of first housing policies. Since the year 1871, the local government structure was extra or fewer. The shortage of houses for poor and workers added more hardship. This adverse condition was created from the onset of war. After the war, whole country was in protests for any action. Eventually Government of UK was forced in to action. The Lloyd George enquired the issues of protests of engineering workers in 1915. All the engineer workers were in strike to force government for any action for the betterment of the people. The industrial unrest of the country was due to insufficient housing accommodation. Ultimately government of UK announced to create housing policy to meet the shortage of building and housing accommodation (Allen, 2008, p.71). The potential fallout of the condition resulted in to the application of housing policy. After World War II, there were total overhaul in policy. Between the year 1945 and 1851, Labour Party was in government. During that span of time, people of UK saw the arrival of welfare state policies. There were two distinct trends due to the manifestos of parties and change of the government. In the year 1945, efforts were done for the service of people. The pivotal priorities after the pledging of manifesto were houses for all people and use of raw materials for the benefit of country. The main policy of the Labour Party was housing. This focal pillar of the policy was introduced in the year 1945The manifesto of the country goes on more to reveal the facilitation the aim of the policy, merging of building materials and centralizing by state are the majority objectives of the policy. Conservative Party also states in the course of same election campaign that health of the economy of the country should be taken in to perspective. This party also said that usage of factory made parts can be best option for the building homes. It can help to improve the building capacity of the country. Conservative Party came in to power in the year 1951. Until the year 1964, Conservative Party was in the power. The manifesto of the Party reveals that housing is the one of the priority. Defence was given higher priority by Conservative Party other than housing. First social services of the country would be housing. Housing is one of the key objectives of the manifesto that can help to increase the productivity. The target of the party was to build 300,000 in every year. The policy also states that private builder must be given freedom to build house. There should not be any reduction of number of houses that are being stated in the policy. This step of freedom to private builder has created huge opportunity for builders to increase the rate of houses that are being built. The party leader of conservative party was Winston Churchill. Winston Churchill concluded that the manifesto of the party is not only of the people but also for the betterment of the country by putting highlight on the spirit of oneness. In Macmillan papers, Turner and Jarvis have described in their introduction about the time of Conservative administration. They both concluded that the aim of the Conservative party is to meet the social trends and ensure their own survival in political aspects. Local government and Minster of Housing in UK have provided a message through secret Cabinet paper. This paper was released in the year 1960. A memorandum was on the provision of social housing and changing the balance of the housing policy. Long paper created by Minister of Housing suggests that private owners must be given freedom to make positive use of the conversion grants and improvement on the housing department (Balchin and Rhoden, 1998, p.38). The paper also encouraged local authorities to break the monopoly in building and housing trusts for the purpose of development of UK. Local authority of houses must be forced to increase the rents. This step of the proposal on housing should start from the end of the year 1961. This process should continue till the year 1963. In 17th June 1960, the increase in rents has been forecasted by the local government and Minister of the Housing Department. The proposed policy has been shifted in to long-term move. The state housing has been set to move in to private ownership to increase the productivity of the country. The cabinet has been urged by the Minister to accept the proposal. This implementation of step will benefit to increase the share of householders. In the year 1961, the Central Housing Advisory Committee of UK appointed the Parker Morris Committee. This committee has submitted the recommendations and document regarding housing. The report published by the Committee is regarded as the most powerful article in the 20th century. The houses in the residential sector should be considered in total. The usage of the space in homes and way home is being occupied by people should be considered in holistic view. The report of Parker Morris is to increase the standard of living of people. In the year 1961, the homes are too small for entire family to adjust. The cited and minima sizes of the dwellings have been regarded as pivotal issue in the report. The aim of Parker Morris published report is to improve and development of the housing stock in Wales, England and mane parts of Britain. The recommendation of Parker report was applicable for both local and private authority of housing. The application of the report has been a beneficiary factor for the economic development of UK. Many of the local authorities, housing association, private builders and new town corporation unit of UK have built more than 600 flats and houses. This operation of builders and associations for building new houses and flats has been done in the year 1959 and 1960 (Holmes, 2005, p.95). The Parker Morris committee has totally changed the pattern of living and revolutionized UK. After the devastation of World War II, the economic and living condition of United Kingdom was wholly shattered. But the mindful thought of Parker Morris committee created an economic and social revolution in UK. There were also several benefits that were acknowledged rather than living culture which are family allowances, national health services and employment. The improvement and advancement of the country helped people to buy modern convenience goods. National prosperity was speared all over the country after the application of report. The positive outcome of the report was more noticed due to the improvement of schooling and education system of UK. Children of UK used to spend more time in the classroom due to the enhancement of the education system. In the year 1962, Minister of Welsh, Local government and Ministry of Housing has pointed out the reason behind the political issue is housing. These points have been considered in the month of May. Constituency of the Conservation party has been one of the pivotal housing problems that have been listed by the Ministers and Local governments. In the month of October, queries have been sent to the cabinet about the information that should be revealed to public. Another query was to announce the far-reaching lines. These lines include the increase in house development per year to 350,000, exclusion of the slum areas within 15 years and increase in productivity. The aim of the broad line is to improve housing shift state to private ownership in UK (Harriott and Matthews, 1998, p.22). Local Government and Minister of Housing have circulated a white paper to the Cabinet. This happened in the year 1963. The intension of the draft paper is to create public announcement about the projection of housing in future. For the next 10 years, number of public and private homes to be built is 500,000. Labour party came in to power in the year 1964. Later in the year 1966, Advisory committee of the Central Housing on standard of Housing fitness has published a report for taking an action on older homes. The chairman of the committee was Evelyn Denington. Evelyn Denington stated on the standard of housing and had sense of satisfaction towards the introduction of the Housing Act. High standard on the style, fabric and space of the houses are the clear universal standards set by the report. Integral part of the report is to improve the housing environment. Standards of the houses are also one of the recommendations set by the sub-committee (Lund, 1996, p.54). New addition in the house includes separate bathroom, kitchen, cooker and many changes in the house internally which are satisfactory. After the power of Labour Party, there were significant changes in the social housing provision. In the history of UK, the recommendation of Parker Morris was provided on development of public and private housing sectors. Conclusion This essay discussed and analyzed the manifesto of both Labour and conservation party that promised to improve the housing condition in UK. The housing policy of Labour party is to centralize the building materials. The statement provided by Labour Party reveals that housing is the first priority of the government and determination is firm to put nation in the first place. Housing program can provide every citizen of the UK with virtuous standard of accommodation. The standard of the houses has been developed for the betterment of the country. The emergence of improved changing patterns of houses, focusing on quality, application of new trends and increase in number of houses has been the pivotal aim of the policy adopted by both Conservation and labour Party. The building of new homes has helped to fulfil the aspiration of people. This revolution has changed the living style of people and created greater informality in the home life of people and also changed the prosperity level. The gradual increase in amount of houses to be built each year has been the aim of the policies to improve housing. The application of policy has increased the productivity of the country and helps to increase the standard of living of the people. References Allen, C., 2008. Housing Market Renewal and Social Class Formation. London: Routledge. Balchin, P., and Rhoden, M., 1998. Housing: The Essential Foundations. London: Routledge. Harriott, S., Matthews, L., 1998. Social Housing: An Introduction. Longman: London. Holmes, C., 2005. A New Vision for Housing. London: Routledge. Lund, B., 1996. Housing problems and Housing Policy. London: Longman. Read More