Integrated Social Housing: Implications for New Build
by Brendan Murtagh and Shauna McDaid, Social and Community Sciences,
University of Ulster 2000
Within this context, the research seeks to answer some fundamental questions about the nature of integrated housing and how to plan for it:
* What is the extent of segregation and integration in public sector housing estates?;
* how are integrated areas produced and reproduced and what factors explain their stability?;
* what is the link between integrated and segregated estates and the nature of local community organisations or social infrastructure?;
* can we define criteria for success to determine where, when and why public sector integrated housing schemes might work?;
* what would such schemes look like in terms of tenant, stock and tenure mix?
* what supporting management and organisational infrastructure might help to guarantee sustainability?;
1.3 Research objectives
In responding to the fundamental research questions the scope and content of the research will be governed by the following objectives:
1. To examine the nature of residential integration and segregation in other highly polarised areas and societies;
2. To assess the level of segregation and integration on Housing Executive estates;
3. To determine the conditions under which integrated social housing might be viable and ultimately sustainable;
4. To help to identify spatial markets in which integrated housing schemes might be feasible;
5. To set out the local housing management context, tenure mix and support systems required to sustain new build housing in the long term.
1.4 Research methodology
The research design puts potential places through a number of filters that initially rule out areas that would not be suitable. As the research programme proceeds the aim of the filters become more inclusive in order to identify the specific conditions in which an integrated scheme might be feasible. The overriding aim is to produce a development approach which avoids putting peoples lives in danger, threatens property or which could destabilise wider conflict resolution and peace initiatives. If it is to be credible, then it must be based on a sensible approach and realistic analysis about what is, and more importantly, what is not possible.
1.4.1 Stage 1 Data interrogation and sub-market analysis
Measuring levels of spatial segregation and integration is a difficult methodological
task. Poole and Doherty (1996) used small area census data to compute a
range of measures of spatial unevenness and dissimilarity. But that approach
was based on 1981 data and would be unfeasible in terms of cost and time
to update. The Housing Executive's approach in their Towards a Community
Relations Strategy sets out very detailed statistics on the level of integration
and segregation at estate and District level. The authors recognise the
limitations of the methodology and the classifictorary data used. However,
it represents the most up to date, applied approach on which to make an
assessment of local market conditions. This is supported by District Management
level data from the CTOS household survey on the religious composition of
tenant households. The analysis combines this data with related statistics
on the nature of the stock, its occupancy and condition. The full range
of data are set out the Appendix to this report. By emphasising the nature
of the 'social rented market' this aims to avoid token schemes within markets
that have little potential for transferring the experience to other areas.
In short, it will avoid the identification of easy, safe or conformable
circumstances in which to develop a realistic initiative.
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