Affordable and sustainable housing: what can Australia learn from the UK?

Abstract

Improving housing affordability is a challenge for both the United Kingdom and Australia. Likewise, both countries are committed to sustainable development which inevitably means working the global goal into local policy responses. The two issues, however, need not be considered in isolation. Both countries need to develop housing that is both affordable and sustainable. This paper considers the history of affordable housing provision in the UK and compares this with the Australian experience. The paper then analyses recent affordability policy, developed at the same time as impressive sustainability policy that aims to see all new homes in the UK carbon neutral by 2016. The article looks at a practical application by summarising a new development at Milton Keynes. The concluding discussion considers what Australia could learn from the UK and what factors might inhibit an application of British policy and innovation to Australia's housing market.