UP: chapter 6

Question 1

Urban planning has two main contributions to make in terms of housing policy and intervention in the housing system:

Answer 1

• To facilitate housing provision and to influence the location and quality of housing constructed
• To manage and coordinate responses to housing obsolescence and the socio-economic and environmental problems of residential neighborhoods

Question 2

What are the factorsa at the core of market failures in the housing sector?

Answer 2

• A gap between the cost of housing and the purchasing power of households
• Failure of the market to take adequate account of housing fitness
• Speed of societal changes such as nature of household formation, migration and changes in the location of demand

Question 3

What is a traditional solution to the gap between housing prices and households’ purchasing power?

Answer 3

Government offers housing subsidy

Question 4

What is a traditional measure for the failure of the market to take adequate account of housing fitness?

Answer 4

State implements and regulates minimum standards of housing fitness and decency

Question 5

What can be done about the market’s slow response to societal changes?

Answer 5

State intervention to accelerate the resolution of problems

Question 6

What is the main driver behind changes in housing requirements at the city-regional level?

Answer 6

Employment trends: employment growth -> inward migration

employment decline -> outward migration

Question 7

Two sources for the housing difficulties:

Answer 7

• Rising demand and slow-responding construction rates

- Owner occupied not only as a utility good, but also as an investment good, further boosting demand

Question 8

How are the housing requirements calculated?

Answer 8

It’s housing availability - housing demand

Question 9

How is housing demand calculated?

Answer 9

Baseline population +/- net migration and natural change (mortality/fertility) - pop. in communal homes * household size and formation rate / household size, income levels, preferences

Question 10

How is housing offer calculated?

Answer 10

Baseline dwelling stock +/- net change (construction/demolition) +/- improvements/conversions / type, size, price level, other characteristics

Question 11

Name the two groups with very specific housing requirements:

Answer 11

• The elderly

- Students

Question 12

Indicate the requirements for the “lifetime neighborhood”:

Answer 12

• support and empower residents to participate in managing the neighborhood
• create walkable environments (safe, attractive, well maintained)
• provide local greenspace
• provide accessible local services (shops with good range of products)

Question 13

Name examples of how planners can use existing areas/buildings for housing:

Answer 13

• sub-division of existing housing
• flats over shops
• use vacant units (3%)
• reuse old sites
• intensification of existing areas, redevelopment of existing housing
• convert commecrial buildings

Question 14

Name the considerations when deciding if and where to build new housing:

Answer 14

• physical limitations: infrastructure, ground conditions, pollution, etc.
• potential impacts: effect on landscape, nature, heritage conservation
• appropriateness and market attractiveness
• contribution to priority areas
• impacts for the would-be pop. and neighboring areas