Seeing is believing: We can build better homes

Slum conditions in converted and ageing buildings; unsafe and unsanitary conditions in new-build housing – so much of the Town and Country Planning Association’s (TCPA) Campaign for Healthy Homes has been focused on the consequences of poorly planned and sub-standard homes on people’s health and wellbeing.

We’ve been shocked by the condition of former office blocks and out of town industrial buildings converted through permitted development rights: Buildings such as Joseph Rank House in Harlow, where the residents were evicted due to fire safety concerns; Beacon House, along London’s north circular road, where residents are exposed to the noise and air pollution emitted by six lanes of traffic; and Kendal Court in East Sussex, where vulnerable people, including women and children placed to escape domestic abuse, were housed in the same buildings as former sex abusers and drug addicts. 

In addition, some entirely new-build housing projects have left residents feeling trapped, unwell, or in the most dire cases, contributed to the death those who lived there – including the recent loss of leasehold campaigner Amanda Walker.

Householders living under shared ownership and leasehold agreements have been living with unsafe cladding, damp or otherwise unsellable properties. The leasehold owners in Agar Grove, Camden Town have been fighting a legal battle for compensation for over five years.

The Consumer Markets Authority (CMA) reported that there is a ‘substantial minority’ of developers delivered housing projects with serious structural problems, such as collapsing staircases and ceilings. 

However the TCPA has always been clear that enlightened developers, supported by good planning policy, can build high quality, healthy and affordable homes across all tenures which go way beyond putting a roof over someone’s head because they are designed to help people to thrive. 

That is why we are excited to launch a new Healthy Homes awards category as part of The Pineapples awards for place – to shine a light on quality housing being delivered. We believe in the adage that seeing is believing – not only to counter false arguments from certain volume housebuilders that quality and genuine affordability are not viable, but also to inspire others to create healthy homes and neighbourhoods.

The TCPA knows from past winners of The Pineapples, including Citizens House in Lewisham, that with the right supportive frameworks, collaboration and political will, is it entirely possible to deliver on all of the Healthy Homes Principles.