Former Labour Advisor Urges Focus on Beautiful Homes to Solve Housing Crisis

Jon Cruddas, a former Labour policy advisor, has called for a renewed focus on building beautiful homes to address the UK's ongoing housing crisis. This recommendation comes in response to a recent report by the Policy Exchange think tank, which emphasizes the importance of combining aesthetic appeal with increased housing supply.

Cruddas, who contributed to Ed Miliband's 2015 manifesto, urges Sir Keir Starmer to prioritize high-quality designs in Labour's housebuilding plans. This stance contrasts with the party's recent decision to remove the "beauty" requirement from planning rules, a move that has sparked debate within the housing sector.

The report, titled "Beauty & Socialism: How the Left can put Beauty back into Britain," argues that aesthetic considerations are crucial for gaining community support for new developments. It criticizes past policies that prioritized quantity over quality, suggesting that this approach has contributed to public resistance to new housing projects.

"Buildings like the Heygate estate, Cumbernauld shopping centre and Robin Hood Gardens may have been conceived with the best of egalitarian intentions but their outright rejection of established ideas of beauty helped cripple their chances of success and severed them from the very (mainly) working-class populace they were built to serve."

The report cites examples of unsuccessful housing projects, including the Heygate Estate in London and the Cumbernauld shopping centre in Scotland, as cautionary tales of how poor design can hinder a development's potential. These projects, despite their well-intentioned origins, failed to meet the needs and expectations of the communities they were meant to serve.

To address these issues, the Policy Exchange recommends establishing a commission within the first 100 days of a new government to reassess the approach to housing development. This commission would aim to integrate the concept of beauty into socialist housing doctrine, recognizing its historical significance in shaping communities.

Additionally, the think tank suggests implementing mandatory public opinion polling for large-scale developments. This approach could serve as a vital tool in gauging community sentiment and potentially overcoming local opposition to new housing projects.

As the UK continues to grapple with its housing shortage, the debate over the balance between quantity and quality remains crucial. The recommendations put forth by Cruddas and the Policy Exchange highlight the need for a nuanced approach that considers both the aesthetic and functional aspects of housing development.

With the housing crisis remaining a pressing issue, policymakers face the challenge of creating homes that not only meet the demand for increased supply but also contribute positively to the built environment and community well-being. The emphasis on beauty in housing design could potentially play a significant role in shaping the future of UK urban planning and development.