A just transition towards housing sustainability

This research engages with key players in the English social housing sector, and looks at ways to challenge and transform the current system to provide housing for all.

The issue

In England, social housing has historically provided secure and affordable housing, however, the number and share of social homes in England has steadily declined since the 1980s. Competing priorities, different interpretations of what constitutes sustainable, healthy, safe or affordable housing, and a partial view of the systemic impacts of proposed interventions have all contributed to the decline. Tensions in the housing sector are now building between:

• the need to provide more and better housing,
• the urgency to minimise the environmental impact of construction
• the challenge of financing social housing provision.

Estate regeneration, which often includes demolition and rebuilding, has been promoted as a way to address these tensions. However, this can put current residents at risk of being forced out, violating their right to housing and health, and damaging trust in the housing sector. 

Research goals

Through a systems thinking and transdisciplinary approach, we engage with people in the English social housing sector and discuss ways to challenge, and transform the current system to provide housing for all. In doing so, this research aims to:

• provide an understanding of the complexity of the social housing system, and of the issues faced by English social housing providers.
• identify a range of interventions and explore their transformative potential.
• collect perspectives on what makes healthy, sustainable, and just housing.
• discuss conflicts, power, and strategies to shift from a growth-driven system to one that prioritises equality, participation, and ecological sustainability.

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Outputs

Scientific papers

Pagani, A., Zimmermann, N., Macmillan, A., Ke, Z., Davies, M. (In review). Systemic Issues of Social Housing in London: mapping interrelated challenges faced by Housing Associations. Housing Studies.

Pagani, A., Macmillan, A., Savini, F., Davies, M., Zimmermann, N. (Accepted). What if there were a moratorium on new housebuilding? An exploratory study with London-based Housing Associations. Built Environment. 

Pagani, A., Walker, A., Macmillan, A., Nita, A., Davies, M., & Zimmermann, N. (In review). Identifying leverage points in the social housing system: London Housing Associations on a path beyond growth? Ecological Economics.

Conference papers and presentations

Pagani, A., Zimmermann, N. (2024) 'Social Housing, Sustainability, and Health: Exploring the Mental Models of Stakeholders in the Sector.' Proceedings of the 2024 International System Dynamics Conference. Bergen, Norway.

Pagani, A., Walker, A., Macmillan, A., Nita, A., Davies, M., Zimmermann, N. (2024) 'Leverage Points Towards Degrowth: Insights from an Exploratory Study with Four Large Housing Associations in London.' Proceedings of the 2024 International System Dynamics Conference. Bergen, Norway.

Pagani, A., Savini, F., Macmillan, A., Zimmermann, N. (2024). 'Towards a building moratorium? Navigating system structures around the retrofitting versus regeneration debate'. International Degrowth Conference 2024. Proceedings published in autumn 2024.

Pagani, A., Macmillan, A., Zimmermann, N., Davies, M. (2024). 'Social housing, health, and regeneration: a process or a goal?' Housing Studies Association Annual Conference 2024.

Pagani, A., Zimmermann, N., Davies, M., (2023, July 23-27). Systemic Issues of Social Housing in England: Identifying Archetypes for a Just Transition towards Sustainability. 41st International System Dynamics Conference, Chicago, Illinois, United States & Online.

Stakeholder reports

Pagani, A., Zimmermann, N., Macmillan, A., Davies, M. (2024). 'Systemic Issues of Social Housing in London and England: Report on the workshops with stakeholders.' Can be shared upon request.

Pagani, A. (2024). 'Places to intervene in the social housing system: Report on the workshop with stakeholders.' Can be shared upon request.

Pagani, A. (In preparation) 'Estate regeneration, sustainability, and health: mapping mental models across the sector: Stakeholder report.'

Presentation recordings

'On housing justice. Let’s talk about fixes that fail.' ETH Athena Lecture (2024)

ACAN Building Discourse: what future? Futurebuild (2024)

'Is Stopping Building New Homes the Solution to the Twin Climate and Housing Emergencies?' The Green Register. Twilight Talk (2024)

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The team

Dr. Anna Pagani (UCL)
Principal Investigator/Funding recipient

Prof. Michael Davies (UCL)
Collaborator

Prof. Nici Zimmermann (UCL)
Collaborator

Prof. Alex Macmillan (University of Otago)
Collaborator

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