The first research seminar of fall quarter will be held on October 10, 12:30-1:30pm, in Gould 440.
Offices to homes: health and wellbeing impacts of housing deregulation in London
Presenter: Helen Pineo, Dept. of Urban Design and Planning
Abstract:
Housing quality is an important determinant of health and wellbeing and a major factor in societal health inequities. In the context of long-term housing shortages and post-Covid empty offices, many countries have deregulated planning and construction standards to increase residential supply. We explored the wellbeing effects such deregulation could cause using an exploratory study of non-residential conversions in London. We are now scaling up this project to a national study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research. This talk will describe the problem, methods and results that informed our exploratory study, followed by an interactive discussion about the ongoing study.
In 2013, the UK government changed Permitted Development Rights (PDR) so that developers can convert commercial and light industrial buildings into housing without planning permission in England. Prior research identified that ‘PDR housing’ has numerous quality issues (e.g. small internal spaces), which are exacerbated in deprived neighborhoods (measured by the UK’s Multiple Indices of Deprivation). Our exploratory study adopted a transdisciplinary approach in four London boroughs. Working with UK homelessness charity Groundswell, we developed an online survey and interview guide for occupants of PDR housing. We found that deregulated non-residential conversions to housing pose potential health and wellbeing risks in the areas of space, overheating, amenities and perceived safety. Residents also highlighted problems with windows and outdoor space. Individual agency and co-occurrence of housing-related challenges (e.g. insecure tenure) may play a role in modifying potential wellbeing impacts of PDR housing.
Bio:
Helen Pineo is an urban planner and Research Associate Professor in the Department of Urban Design and Planning at the University of Washington. Her research focuses on how development, regeneration and urban policy can support health and sustainability. She contributes to the evidence base about why and how to do healthy urbanism by using transdisciplinary approaches and amplifying the needs of under-represented communities and the planet.