Transcript Gateway People

Gateway People
Jim Bennett
Senior Research Fellow
Institute for Public Policy Research
Growth areas project
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Focus on socio-economic challenges in
housing growth
Review of the New Towns
Demographic analysis
Qualitative research
Economic analysis
Growth areas communities
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Who is going to live in the growth areas?
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Local latent demand
In-migration
Rise of single households…
… but traditional migration flows within
greater SE are driven by young families.
Why do focus groups?
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In migration driven by:
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Housing offer
Employment
Infrastructure
Housing policy
What are the housing aspirations of
potential residents?
Study segments
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Focus on the Thames Gateway
Prospective residents
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People in housing need
Key workers and equivalents
Households with £40-£80K incomes
Existing residents
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People living on low incomes in deprived
areas of TG
Existing residents
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Deprived areas of Thames Gateway
Low awareness of proposed growth
Concerns about infrastructure and
services deficit
Sceptical about benefits of growth
Potential for significant racial tensions
Key messages –
prospective residents
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Affordability attractive to low & mid incomes
Higher earners want transport and cultural
heritage
All groups very concerned about quality of new
housing
Mixed tenure issues
Community and security
Access to services
Prospective residents
Rochester is nice – it’s got a bit of character.
I’m paranoid about new-build houses – a lot
of them are lifeless…
We don’t want to feel like we are living as
just one more in a series. We want our
home to be a bit different.
Key Messages –
Existing Residents
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Low awareness of proposed growth
Concerns about infrastructure and
services deficit
Concerns about impact on green space
Sceptical about benefits of growth
Potential for significant racial tensions
Existing residents
There should’ve at least been an opinion poll so
we could say what we thought.
A lot of people from London and other places
come here because it’s cheaper, but we’re left in
the same position because there aren’t any jobs
which mean we can’t get on and better our lives
They’ll open shops for them, like hairdressers for
black women, we don’t need that.
Londoners are snobs.
Key challenges
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For strategic planning
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understanding demographics and aspirations
infrastructure and public services
For local planning – housing quality and
neighbourhood layout
For local agencies – community
engagement and development
www.ippr.org
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