Housing crisis ?

Optimistic visions ? Or the start of a revolution ?

For a long time now we have debated the so called “housing crisis” hitting the UK. As an avid outdoor sports enthusiast, these debates have swayed me from moments of fear, hysteria, to moments of ‘head in sand’. But as I see the many proposals, almost surrounding the town in which I live, I wonder what will the future hold. Will I one day have to travel for hours on end, to find green areas to walk the dog, will I swap my mountain bike for a cycle machine ? or my kayaking equipment with a rowing machine ?  Will my future children only experience the great outdoors, once a month? once a year ? on a games console ? Watching wildlife documentary’s ? Or playing football on an AstroTurf.

 The many areas considered for house construction

 around Sandbach ....... 

 I want to make it clear I understand the problems facing the housing developers, the council and the government. But at the same time I want to seek some sort of alternative. Currently the only answer for many of us is to try slowing and preventing the proposals. But is that the real answer ?

To understand the issue, first we need to understand the cause of the problem. The government have stated that due to the increasing and ageing population, we will need an increase in housing and set numerous targets for growth. In Cheshire East, (local to me) 27 000 new homes are planned by 2030, in the East of Cheshire, (Cheshire East core policy 2013). The housing developers obviously love the ‘free for all’ with the chance of throwing up cheap housing, and quickly making profits. The council currently seem to be the ones stuck in a rut, stuck between government target, and the community.

So what is this alternative you ask ? well if im honest there’s two. Firstly we should make sure developers and the council know that we expect sensible, sustainable growth, with relevant infrastructures. I honestly can’t name one proposal I have recently seen that offered some sort of infrastructure, for example shops, schools, community facilities, improved road junctions, or the widening of connecting roads, green space ( in fact any open space). Why ? why should councils accept these cheap, quick to build, squashed housing estates. Surely the council should want proposals for community housing estates, not just the best way to fit the most houses in one area ?

My second ‘alternative’ to sitting around, moaning about the ‘housing free for all’ is to champion green initiatives. Now this alternative is the one that gets me the most excited. As people, families, friends and communities we should be coming together. Coming together claiming wasteland, purchasing land, working with land owners and creating green areas.

Imagine a field next to your town. The community taking ownership, creates a woodland, lake, wetland, nature reserve, a park, a green space. Grants from various trusts, charities and government can help plant trees , DIY store scrapage schemes enable free wood to build bird houses, mountain bikers could come together to create mountain biking tracks, local school children could have classes in weaving, nature studies and natural photography, the community comes together to manage the green space. A similar social enterprise has been created In Burslem, with an old church being turned into a rock climbing centre. Turning an unused building into a hub for outdoor enthusiasts, young people and people wanting to try out the sport.

What benefits would this second alternative achieve ? Green, open space for generations to come. Communities would integrate, work together and have a central ‘hub’ for the community. Housing developments would be pushed out of the area, ensuring the town centre keeps some green/open space. Young people would be able to experience the great outdoors, frequently and easily. Mountain biking, walking, nature spotting, geocaching all freely available without an added a car journey. This could easily be followed by other green initiatives, such as promoting or donating bird feeders to local residents. Creating more wildlife corridors, encouraging garden owners to try encouraging wildlife into their garden and spreading a ‘web’ of green space throughout the community.

So what do you think ? Next time were sat around debating the negativities of the inevitable increase in housing, should we make some positive progressive points ?

Could we as individuals, or as communities, make a positive change ?  Pressuring councils and housing developers to make sensible housing construction, quality proposals with an emphasis on quality ! Proper infrastructures, outdoor space and ultimately good quality places to live.  Adding to this should we think about what we could do ourselves to improve the areas that we live. Community enterprises, outdoor space, places local to spend time, improve our environment and basically improve our own well being.