Sector voices concerns as report finds housing at the root of racial tension in the north
Allocation of housing and regeneration investment has emerged as a key factor in exacerbating tensions that culminated in the summer’s race riots in northern England, government research claimed this week.

But Federation of Black Housing Organisations chair Anil Singh blasted the eagerly-awaited report. It highlighted the problems but it failed to suggest credible solutions, he complained.

The findings, which form part of an inter-departmental group’s report into the disturbances that took place in Oldham, Bradford and Burnley, state:

“There is clear evidence that concentrations of people from one ethnic background in certain areas of housing, and their separation from other groups in adjacent areas has contributed significantly to inter-community tensions.”

The report adds: “The impact of housing policies on community cohesion seems to have escaped serious consideration. This is in contrast to the substantial work on equal opportunities in relation to local authority and RSL housing.”

It suggests separating funding for housing improvements and regeneration: “Housing improvement can distort regeneration as it is capital intensive. Some separation may be required to ensure a consistent and focused approach on people rather than property needs.”

The long-term capital funding nature of housing improvements means changes are not seen as quickly on the ground as in “people-based” schemes, it says.

The statement prompted fears of a reduction in housing investment unless there is a boost in regeneration spending.

National Housing Federation policy officer Aaron Cahill said: “This report correctly observes that people leave deprived neighbourhoods when they are financially able to do so, but this trend will only be made worse by reducing housing investment further in areas with run down, unpopular housing. Any attempt to reduce social housing investment in deprived areas would more than likely work against the floor targets the government recently announced.”

David Fotheringham, head of policy at the Chartered Institute of Housing, warned that “any such a reduction would lead to concerns”. He said the government needed to match its decent homes standard for council homes with a similar strategy for private sector housing, where many people from ethnic minorities live.

The role of new developments is heavily criticised – the report found some new estates merely reinforced present settlement patterns, losing the opportunity to promote any sort of cohesion.

To change this, the report says local authorities need to identify and plan for the improvement, renewal and replacement of unsatisfactory housing stock.

John Perry, institute policy director said: “Housing agencies must assess their allocation systems and development programmes to ensure contact between different communities.”

The report also outlines changes to the government’s National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal, launched in January this year.

It warns that the large number of area-based initiatives can lead to confusion, and suggests a number of individual programmes be merged, or budgets pooled at a local level.